HASLEMERE Museum has been selected as finalists by Tourism South East for the 2015/16 Beautiful South Awards. 

All three finalists for the prestigious tourism award in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category have been chosen from a host of the south east’s tourism businesses by independent judges. 

The Beautiful South Awards recognises hotels, B&Bs, visitor attractions, pubs and other types of tourism businesses in the south east that deliver the very best in quality, innovation and service.

The competition to win the coveted accolade is as fierce as ever this year with more than 120 entries over 16 categories.

Haslemere Museum will discover whether it has won gold, silver or bronze at the awards celebration, at The Grand Hotel, in Brighton, on Wednesday December 2.

Museum, chairman Melanie Odell said: “I am delighted Haslemere Museum has been chosen as a finalist for this prestigious tourism award and it is testimony to the dedication and enthusiasm of all our staff and volunteers who work so hard to ensure that our visitors enjoy their time at such a fantastic attraction.

“It is a wonderful achievement and we look forward to welcoming many more visitors in the future and providing our usual warm and friendly service.”

The museum was winner of the Museums and Heritage Awards Project on a Limited Budget 2014, and alsom came first in the Telegraph Family Friendly Museum Award 2012

It also won the Museums and Heritage Awards Nation’s Favourite Museum acolade in the same year.

The museum has announced two new appointments.

Sir Rob Margetts CBE, has accepted an invitation to become one of the honorary patrons.

He is currently chairman of Ordnance Survey and deputy chairman or non-executive director of a number of several other companies.

He has been vice-hairman of ICI, and non-executive chairman of the Legal and General insurance group, a director of the BOC Group and English China Clays and many other listed and private companies.

He was awarded a CBE in 1996, and received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2006.

Sir Jim Rose CBE, has been appointed a new trustee to the museum’s board.

He is currently president of the National Foundation for Education Research (NFER), and president of the Education Development Trust (CfBT).

Sir Jim has advised several overseas governments on school inspection, and has international experience of school educational systems undertaking assignments for the World Bank and for the British Council.