Gaenor has been celebrating her “Best Mummification Demonstration” award which she received at the Egypt Centre’s annual volunteer award ceremony held at the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities on Thursday (14^th June). 

Gaenor is one of a long list of volunteers who have been recognised by the Centre for their hard work and dedication over the past year. Sandra Hawkins received the 2012 Volunteer of the Year award with recognition awards for a range of achievements like the Longest Serving volunteer and the Lifetime Achievement award.

The Egypt Centre also celebrated that its young volunteers had this year beaten off tough competition to win the “Diana Award for Champion Volunteers”. Other successes this year have included silver and bronze awards at Children’s and Youth University, 4 highly commended Welsh Volunteer of Year awards, new contracts with external partners to help the unemployed back into work, and work with the Swansea Council to help young people not in education, employment or training.

Dr Carolyn Graves- Brown, Curator at the Egypt Centre said: “ The award ceremony recognises the hard work and selfless dedication that enables our community to continue to enjoy this fascinating cultural resource.  Our volunteer team comprises a large range of socioeconomic groups, educational abilities and ages. We are the only museum in Britain to involve children from such a wide ability range in our volunteering programme. I am so pleased that our volunteers had so much success to celebrate.”

The main award winners are:

Sandra Hawkins (2012 Volunteer of the Year); Owain Griffin (Best Newcomer); Emily Evans (Demonstrated most potential); Alison John (winner, creative ability); Frank Norton (Winner for best visitor interaction and role model for volunteering); Gaenor Marsh (Best Mummification demonstration); Paul Varley (Best Mathematics demonstration); Jill Rutter (excellence and dedication to schools); Sheila Nowell (longest serving); Hazel Merrimen (Lifetime Achievement).

• The Egypt Centre, Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, situated at the Swansea University officially opened in 1998.  The museum is open Tuesday to Saturdays 10am-4.00pm and is free to the public.  The collection comprises over 4500 objects largely from the pharmacist Sir Henry Wellcome collection (1853-1936).  The Egyptian material largely covers the period c.100,000 B.C. - A.D. 500 in two galleries and includes jewellery dating from the time of Tutankhamun, weapons, a mummified crocodile and much, much more. There are lots of hands on activities for children and adults alike, the most popular of which is the dummy mummy. Come and try your hand at mummification!  For further information about the Egypt Centre contact 01792 295960 or visit the web site at http://www.swansea.ac.uk/egypt