FARNHAM Castle’s board of trustees is seeking to appoint three new members to help deliver exciting new initiatives in support of its charitable objectives.

These include historical and architectural research and the development of a new internet presence which will make the life and times of the castle and the Bishops of Winchester more accessible to the public.

Applicants should have a strong interest in historic building preservation, local and national history and a good knowledge of Farnham and the surrounding area.

Candidates should also be comfortable working with tenants of the Bishop’s Palace, Farnham Castle Operations Ltd, as well as other board members, charitable organisations, suppliers and stakeholders.

The voluntary positions to be filled are as follows:

• Heritage architect – The candidate should be an authority on the management and preservation of historic buildings. This role will be responsible for managing the interfaces to the Church Commissioners, English Heritage and Farnham Town Council.

• Communications lead – The candidate should have communications, marketing and internet skills. This role will be responsible for managing the interfaces to local media organisations and the development and ongoing maintenance of the new Farnham Castle web presence (funding is available).

• Education lead – The candidate should be an excellent communicator, able to capture historical details in stories, vignettes and items of interest for local schools and young people. The role will also be responsible for co-ordinating ‘educating the public’ events such as school visits and Heritage Open Days.

Martin Butcher, chairman of the castle’s board of trustees, said: “Since Farnham Castle Operations Ltd secured a 20-year lease on the Bishops Palace in 2012, the castle as a business is thriving with a focus on weddings.

“But the board of trustees’ role is to make sure the tenants keep to the terms of their lease and ensure the fabric of the 900-year-old castle is maintained for future generations.

“The current trustees were brought in by Baroness Virginia Bottomley to secure the immediate future of the castle after its previous tenants, Farnham Castle Briefings Ltd, went into liquidation. However, now that the castle’s future is safe, the board is changing its focus to reflect charitable purposes.

“We have new objectives to advance the educational aspect of the castle and, whereas the current four trustees are not all Farnham-based, we would like to involve more local people in the upkeep of their castle.

“As a charity we receive some income - around £25,000 per annum - which gives us some investment potential, and we’re also appealing for help in deciding the best way to spend this.”

Trustees meet formally twice a year and are expected to serve a minimum three-year term, which can be extended.

Applicants should send a short statement (no more than one page) stating their interest in becoming a board member, which role they are applying for, the skills they will bring to the role and contact details by email to [email protected] by Friday, March 4.

Successful applicants will be shortlisted and invited to an interview at the castle shortly thereafter.

Further information on the charity is available, if required, by emailing the secretary at [email protected].

uk.

• Although the Bishop’s Palace is a commercial proposition, Farnham Castle’s visitor centre is open to the public seven days a week - manned by volunteer guides who can give tours of the keep at the weekend and palace on Wednesdays.