Salisbury Museum: Michael Wade is new chair of trustees

The museum has announced Michael Wade OBE as the new chair of the board of trustees.

The museum said Mr Wade joins at an "exciting time" as the museum has been implementing a masterplan to transform The King's House.

This has included updating displays, improving facilities and putting the museum on a "firm financial footing".

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Michael Wade has been appointed as the new chair of trustees at Salisbury Museum (Image: Salisbury Museum) The museum successfully reopened on July 13, 2024, with new galleries dedicated to local history, ceramics and natural history.

The project, named Past Forward, was predominantly supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Mr Wade said: "I am most honoured to be invited to take the chair of the Salisbury Museum and immediately thank my predecessors for their hard work and commitment to enable the successful conclusion of the refurbishment and rebuilding programmes these past few years.

"The museum acts as a catalyst to understanding and learning about English history on many different levels, and to appreciating what is so special and significant about this landscape, and the lives of the people who have shaped it."

The museum said the new chair will lead the trustees in taking an active role in reviewing the museum’s business plan and help to fundraise for further capital redevelopment and new exhibitions.

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Adrian Green, director of Salisbury Museum, said: "Michael Wade has joined the museum at the perfect moment.

"His extensive knowledge of the Salisbury area, as well as his professional career, will be of huge value to the museum as we review our recent successes and plan for delivering the next stage of our masterplan."

Mr Wade has lived in and near Salisbury for 30 years, first at Trafalgar Park and more recently at The Walton Canonry neighbouring the Salisbury Museum in The Close.

He is president of Wiltshire Victoria County History and a trustee of Salisbury Cathedral Girls Choristers Fund.

Mr Wade has spent more than 45 years at the Lloyd's insurance market in the City of London, is a freeman of the city and liveryman.

He was made an OBE in the late Queen's Birthday Honours of 2018.

Mr Wade also served at the Cabinet Office as the crown representative for insurance.

Currently, he is chairman of Helios Underwriting plc and a senior advisor to Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance in Tokyo.