A POPULAR museum is preparing to open its doors to the public ahead of the summer season.

The Harwich Society’s Lifeboat Museum will be welcoming residents from next Wednesday, June 9, with a new curator.

Charlie Powell will be taking over the role from long standing curator and RNLI historian, Ken Brand.

Mr Powell, said: “Ken Brand served for over 25 years on the Harwich lifeboat so had a wealth of local knowledge and firsthand experience.

“While I cannot match that I share Ken’s pride in Harwich’s lifeboat history and heritage and I am looking forward to showing visitors all that the museum has to offer.”

Pride of place in the museum is the Valentine Wyndham-Quin, an Oakley class 37 feet self righting lifeboat which was in service between 1967 and 1988.

Mr Powell added: “The Harwich Society shares the town’s pride in the local RNLI and it is fitting that we have a lifeboat museum amongst our visitor attractions.

“I’m sure we are going to have a very busy summer and we are very much looking forward to it.”

The museum will be open from 11am to 3pm each Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until October 9.