NORTH Yorkshire’s Lord-Lieutenant officially launched the 50th anniversary celebrations at Ryedale Folk Museum.

Lord Crathorne joined the museum’s volunteers, staff, life members and other dignitaries for a festive celebration and was greeted by museum patron Lady Feversham and trustee Anthony Clark.

Ryedale Folk Museum first opened as a museum in 1964 and has grown from very humble beginnings to inhabit a six acre site today, with 20 heritage buildings and more than 40,000 objects and antiques.

Lord Crathorne gave an impassioned address about the work of museum. He spoke about the importance of the museum in the context of saving Ryedale’s built and cultural heritage and the museum’s work within the wider community.

During his afternoon at the museum Lord Crathorne planted a plum tree, and a lasting marker of the 50th anniversary is being created by stonemasonry students from Moulton College in Northamptonshire. The stone carved milestone will be hand carved by the students over the next few months and placed in the museum’s grounds.

Mr Clark said: “We have had a wonderful afternoon here at the museum. Lord Crathorne has provided us with a very fitting anniversary tribute to our unique museum.”