Anne Read – Museum of North Craven Life
Anne Read MA (Oxon) MBE (1943-2025)
The Museum of North Craven Life is deeply saddened to announce the death of its founding curator, Anne Read. Anne held the post of Honorary Curator from 1976 until October 2019, an astounding 43 years of voluntary service. In 1977, to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, Anne set up the Museum’s first exhibition at Twisleton’s Yard in Settle, with artefacts and photographs lent by local people. Much of this material was later donated to form the core of the museum’s collection.
Anne read English at St Hugh’s College, Oxford and then worked at the Bodleian Library, before moving to the Brotherton Library in Leeds. She and her husband Peter moved to Giggleswick, and in 1976 the Settle & District Civic Society approached Anne with a request for help in establishing the museum that was to become her unpaid second career. Following her retirement as an academic librarian in 2012 (the year in which she was awarded an MBE for services to heritage in North Yorkshire), the museum often demanded her attention up to 16 hours a day, seven days a week. She steered its moves as it outgrew its first two premises in Settle, until it found a permanent home at The Folly in 2001. Anne insisted that nothing could have been achieved without the skills, time and commitment of very many volunteer supporters, but her kindness and personal warmth was central to maintaining the enthusiasm and morale of that volunteer group. Even so, the lion’s share of planning exhibitions, organising research, and continuously pursuing funding was borne by Anne. She travelled across Yorkshire in all weathers to promote the museum, to talk about Craven history, attend workshops, and to seek out best practice in other museums, making many new friends along the way.
Her dedication to the development of the Museum of North Craven Life leaves an extraordinary legacy. She will be greatly missed by friends and colleagues, and by those who benefited from her immense knowledge of local history, not only as a curator, but also in her roles as a trustee of the North Craven Building Preservation Trust and as President of the North Craven Heritage Trust.
Anyone wishing to receive information about Anne’s funeral is welcome to email curator@ncbpt.org.uk.
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