Expertise from two of West Cornwall’s biggest museums has come to Helston to steer the future of Helston Folk Museum.

A new curator has been appointed in the form of Katherine Ashton, who has been working as education and outreach officer at Penlee House Museum in Penzance for the last three years, while Tracey Clowes will take on the role of part time curatorial assistant after managing the education activities for the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro.

Katherine, who lives in Perranuthnoe, has previously held roles of collections officer, project officer and archivist in the past.

She has an MA in museum studies, is an associate of the Museums Association and holds qualifications in museum conservation and restoration.

Tracey, from Constantine, already has experience of the Helston museum, having previously run educational programmes there. Her work with museums follows a successful career in secondary education.

She has been recognised as a Cornish Bard for her contribution to Cornish history and her work with the Constantine Heritage Collection and the Royal Cornwall Museum.

They both began in post on Monday last week.

David Turnbull, secretary of the South Kerrier Heritage Trust, which is now responsible for the management of the museum, said it was “with great pleasure” that the pair were welcomed to the museum.

He added: “We wish both Katherine and Tracey well in their new roles.”

Mr Turnbull also thanked the museum’s many volunteers, saying: “Through the month of August it has been difficult to manage the museum without key staff and we are extremely grateful to the volunteers who have supported the museum and maintained the opening hours through the month.

“With Katherine and Tracey now in place we look forward to an exciting future for the museum.” The museum is open from 10am to 1pm Monday to Saturday.