DORKING's reborn museum is officially open for business after a celebratory event was held six months after refurbishment work was completed.
Dignitaries including the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey Dame Sarah Goad and Mole Valley District Council chairman Caroline Salmon descended upon the West Street museum for a champagne reception on Thursday (April 18).
Visitors joined volunteers, fundraisers and long-time supporters to admire its freshly created displays and even sneak a look behind the scenes.
Committee member Kathy Atherton said the Dorking and District Preservation Society, which operates the museum, wanted to stage a formal event to mark the refurbishment project's completion, despite it being open to the public since October.
Mrs Atherton said: "Dame Sarah was there for about an hour and a half and, as she was particularly interested in our paintings, we got out a special selection that are not normally on display.
"It was a lovely event and so good to see so many of our supporters there – some of them have followed the story for a great many years, so it was very nice to see them there."
