Brecknock Society & Museum Friends
- Professor Sir Glanmour Williams, lecturer, Sister Bonaventure Kelleher (President of BSMF) & Mr Ken Jones (Chairman BSMF)
The eminent archaeologist Professor Mortimer Wheeler provided professional advice on how the museum should be developed and Lord Galnusk bequeathed what is possibly still its prize exhibit, the late ninth century dug-out canoe from Llangors Lake. The increasing reputation of the Brecknock Museum and Art Gallery resulted in it recently becoming the only museum in south and mid Wales to be recognized as a partner of the National Museum and art Galleries of Wales.
During the last seventy five years two of the major achievements of the Society have been to purchase and preserve the Castle and Court at Tretower, until it was handed over to the former Ministry of Works, and the publication of Volume IV of the Glanusk edition of the "The History of Brecknock", by Theophilus Jones. The Society also inaugurated the annual Henry Vaughan service in Llansatffraed Church and was largely responsible for the erection of the Llywelyn ap Gruffudd Memorial near Builth Wells. In 1995 it produced the first of the thirty-four volumes to date of "Brycheiniog".
In the early 1950s the Breconshire County Council became responsible for the management and financing of the museum and a Friends of the museum association was formed. In 1986 the two societies merged to create The Brecknock and Museum Friends (BS&MF).
- arranges monthly lectures, which are free to non-members and members, during the winter, on subjects across the wide range of the original objectives of the Brecknock Society, and visits to historic sites during the summer ;
- publishes the learned journal "Brycheiniog", which is purchased by universities and historians in this country and abroad;
- organises the Sir John Lloyd Memorial Lecture which in recent years has been given by distinguished historians from the universities of Wales, Oxford and London and is now regarded as one of the most important annual public history lectures in Wales, assists the development of the Brecknock Museum and Art Gallery, by raising funds to purchase equipment, such as the video security system, and artifacts;
- consults with Powys County Council on the redevelopment of the Museum and lobbies on behalf of the museum;
- oversee the Junior Schools' History competition, which has recently been extended to all thirty-six junior schools in the shire of Brecknock;
- manages the Oral and Video History PRoject, which has been supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Museum of Welsh Life.
During the next few years the BS&MF will also be involved in the proposed major redevelopment of the Museum and Art Gallery. A further important activity will be to help the museum to strengthen its relationship with schools and the people of Brecknock. The more members we have the more effective we can be in achieving these objectives. Membership is £6 for individuals and £10 per annum for families. Application forms and the BS&MF's most recent Newsletter can be obtained from the Museum.
