On June 14th 2017, a lovely sunny evening, members of the HHS committee and the Hunter family celebrated the opening of the new Perks and Llewellyn display at Hitchin Lavender in Ickleford. They were joined by some of the people instrumental in facilitating the creation.
Some time ago it had become clear that not all the fittings from the old Hitchin Museum chemist shop were needed at the new NHDC Museum. It was through the suggestion of the council’s Museums Officer Ros Allwood that Alec and Tim Hunter provided a new purpose-built space for us at Cadwell Farm.
l to r: Alex Hunter, Noel Hunter, Tim Hunter, Gerry Tidy
Alan Fleck, the former museum curator, helped Ray Matcham and Gerry Tidy to unravel the screws and strings to free the fittings for transportation to Ickleford. Ray and Alec fixed the furnishings and Noel Hunter completed the interior display. Her husband Tim (Alec’s son) was a co-facilitator in the scheme. Bob Press designed the information board describing the background to Perks and Llewellyn, especially the lavender production; how the Miss Lewis collection was donated; the formation of Hertfordshire Pharmaceutical and Medical Museum Trust and its work in housing the shop at the old Hitchin Museum; and the Trust’s subsequent merger with Hitchin Historical Society, who are the current owners of the collection.
Alan Millard, the new Chairman of NHDC, and Myles Maxwell, chairman of Ickleford Parish Council, also attended the launch, and Dr Clare Powell and her daughter Natalie served a mouthwatering selection of canapés.
Everyone was very pleased with the display, a stunning re-creation which is now, hopefully, in a secure home for many years to come.
by Gerry Tidy