<-- Go BackThieves steal museum founder's MBE
The MBE awarded to Henry Jackson, co-founder with his wife Madge of the Rural Life Centre in Tilford, was stolen by thieves who broke into the 10-acre site recently.Chris Shepheard, Director of the museum, said "It is a particularly callous theft because Madge and Henry were given joint MBEs, a very rare occurrence even now. Henry always felt it was a recognition of the effort everyone had put into the museum, including all the volunteers."
The medal was awarded to the couple in the Queen's 2000 Birthday Honours for service to the community as founders of the Rural Life Centre when Henry was 77 and Madge 73. Henry said at the time: "It was quite an honour! I thought it was good from the point of view of the museum because it's time it was recognised for all the effort that everyone's put in."
The Rural Life Centre collection was started by the couple in 1969 and first opened to the public in 1973. It now houses a wonderful collection of artefacts showing village life as well as many restored buildings which have been carefully dismantled, reassembled and refurbished. The loss of the MBE medal has saddened the trustees, staff and volunteers, most of whom have fond memories of Henry and Madge Jackson.
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