Historic milestone passed for Trent Park Museum with signing of legal agreement!

Yesterday an historic milestone was passed in the long and rich story of Trent Park - a legal agreement was signed bringing the reality of Trent Park Museum a significant step closer! Well over two years since launching the campaign to Save Trent Park calling for the establishment of a national museum and learning centre in one of the most historically significant buildings of the 20th century - historian Dr Helen Fry and I signed a legal agreement with the current owners of Trent Park, the Berkeley Group, ensuring that the evocative ground floor and basement of the grade II listed mansion will be handed over to the Trent Park Museum Trust to develop and establish a museum for the public benefit. The museum will tell the story of how Trent Park helped win World War Two as an intelligence services run prison for the most senior captured German Generals and Colonels (where every conversation they had was secretly listened to revealing secrets of war-winning significance) - enabling the public to experience first hand the cunning of British intelligence and the critical yet long undisclosed story of the Secret Listeners of the War. Visitors will also be able to experience the estate's important and colourful earlier history of the house, including during it's ownership by Sir Philip Sassoon in the roaring twenties - the place to be seen for almost every Prime Minister, member of the Royal family and leading socialite and public figure of that era. There are of course significant hurdles still to cross - not least Enfield Council granting planning permission for the whole scheme at planning committee in April (details of the meeting will be publicised on our facebook page once announced), and of course raising significant funds; but we are optimistic that within a few years we will be able to cut the ribbon for a new institution that will propel Trent Park to national recognition. As Chairman of the Trent Park Museum Trust I want to thank all those who have helped us reach this critical juncture today - from my hard-working and dedicated fellow trustees, all the countless people who helped us campaign from late 2014 when the future of Trent Park looked very troubling and uncertain and who signed this and earlier petitions; to The Prince's Regeneration Trust for their support and many other institutions, individuals and museums; and of course to the Berkeley Homes team who listened to our concerns and those of the public and agreed to support this substantial museum that will serve the public interest. There are countless people I can mention without whom we might have not got to this point - and we will be sure to pay tribute to them in due course! As mentioned our next big hurdle is Enfield Council passing this at planing committee in April - details (including date/time) of the meeting will be publicised once announced - we trust Enfield will do the right thing, and I hope we can rely on your continued support! More details can be found on the Museum's website www.trentparkmuseum.org.uk (where you can join the mailing list) and please like www.facebook.com/trentparkmuseum to receive regular updates. Jason Charalambous Chairman of Trent Park Museum Trust (former founder of Save Trent Park Campaign) [NB the attached photo was taken at the signing of the legal agreement: (front row left to right) Berkeley Homes Managing Director Piers Clanford, Trust Chairman Jason Charalambous and Deputy Chairman Dr Helen Fry; (standing left to right) Berkeley's Dan Massie and Trustee Alan Perkin]