Royston Museum's 'Heritage Hero' finishes scanning project

Phil Smith - who won a Heritage Hero Award at the 2023 Hertfordshire Association of Museum’s annual awards - has been contributing to the museum and the town's history for nearly 60 years. 

At age 23 he was involved in the founding of Royston's history society - which was set up to provide a dedicated museum for the town.

Since then, Phil supported the museum's move to its current premises in 1984, and helped nine curators to research and archive its collection.

Phil Smith has finished scanning the nearly 8,000 photographs in Royston Museum's collection (Image: Royston Museum)

Throughout the years Phil has also been heavily involved in the Friends of Royston Museum, which he co-founded in 1984, and fundraises for the museum through membership and events.

Now age 80, Phil still comes to the museum every week to volunteer, and has just finished scanning the photographic collection.

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Royston Museum manager Nicky Paton said: "He has done all of this for the love of the town, the community and its history, never seeking admiration or praise.

"For this he is a hero and a true asset, and the museum would be quite different and less rich without him."