About us
Ullapool Museum Trust was formed in 1991 to collect, promote and preserve the history and heritage of Lochbroom. The Trust was offered the historic listed Thomas Telford designed parliamentary Church for just £1 from the Church of Scotland. This iconic building was built in 1829 and was in use as a church until 1935, when the congregation moved to a new church in Mill Street. The last service in the building was a wedding. The Trust preserved and restored the building and it opened as Ullapool Museum in December 1995.
The Museum has full accredited status with Museums and Galleries Scotland and operates as a charitable organisation (Sc108255), relying on a committed group of volunteers. Our volunteer team covers many different areas of work in the museum, from documenting and conserving our collection, to exhibition design and collecting oral history.
You can help us to protect and preserve Lochbroom’s history and heritage in many ways. membership of Ullapool Museum is open to everyone at home and abroad. being a member gives you not only access to the quarterly newsletter, but special discounts in our shop bot in the museum and online and open access to our museum and our archives. You can also support us by making a donation. All money raised goes into caring for our collections and helping us tell the stories of Lochbroom and it’s people.
Our Team
Siobhán Beatson BA (HONS) Hist
Museum Manager
(She/Her)
Siobhán has been the manager at Ullapool Museum since April 2020 and served as the Museum Administrator since 2019. Siobhán graduated in 2020 with a First in Scottish History from a combined degree with The Open University and The University of Dundee. She is currently undertaking a MLitt in the History of the Highlands and Island at The University of the Highlands and Islands. Siobhan is passionate about engaging a younger audience and bringing them into the museum fold, and re-engaging with our local community in new and innovative ways to promote the heritage and culture of Lochbroom.
August Maclean BA
Collections Assistant
(They/Them)
August has recently been appointed as our first ever Collections Assistant, which has been developed as part of a long term plan to bring our stores up to date and ensure sustainability of our collection. August achieved a BA in Archaeology from the University of the Highlands and Islands, while also traveling, working part time and spending summers gaining fieldwork experience on dig sites, most notably The Cairns site in Orkney. August has a passion for material culture and by digging through our collection we hope to be able to uncover some hidden gems.
Mairead Bush MA PgDip
Marketing and Events Assistant
(She/Her)
Mairead joined Ullapool Museum in March 2023 as Marketing and Events Assistant. She has achieved a Postgraduate Diploma in Gaelic Media from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye and a Masters in Writing from Glasgow Caledonian University. She has experience working as a professional writer having translated Katie Mòrag episodes into Gaelic for BBC ALBA and on various film and television sets as an assistant producer which will be of great benefit when using Tik Tok! She is passionate about living and working in the Highlands, using her Gaelic and is looking forward to working with the team promoting events at Ullapool museum.
Helen Avenell MA PgDip
Project Manager Lost Inverlael/Curatorial Mentor
(She/Her)
Helen has been with Ullapool Museum for since 2009 in a variety of positions including Curatorial Advisor, Curatorial Assistant and Outreach and Development Manager. Helen graduated in 1997 from The University of Glasgow with a Masters Degree in Scottish History and Culture with a special focus on Scottish Diaspora. Helen has worked tirelessly with Ullapool Museum to establish good working practices and new and engaging exhibitions, along with project managing the Re-display in 2017. Helen also works with diverse range of heritage sites, delivering both large and small projects, with a particular focus on audience development and community consultation.
Ullapool Museum Board
Mhairi Muncaster
Mhairi has recently returned to Ullapool after several years living in London. Mhairi has many years experience working with Museums and served at curator for the William Morris Gallery for 7 years.
Jemma Middleton
Jemma has been with Ullapool Museum since 2019. Jemma is the History teacher at Ullapool High School and has worked with us to increase our visibility with a younger local audience.
Penny Stewart
Penny has been on the board since 2019 and in recent years has taken up the mantle as Membership Secretary and turned around how we manage our membership systems..
George Hobbs
George has recently taken over as Treasurer. George has years of experience in museums after recently retiring as the Vice President of the National Trust for South Australia.
Ullapool Museum are actively recruiting board members. If you feel that you have the skills and time to give to a small, independent museum then we would like to hear from you.
To be a active member of our board does not require any experience or knowledge of museums or history. Skills such as marketing, finance, organisational skills, administrative experience are all valuable skills that we highly value, and we would be very keen to hear from you if you think you have the time and skills required.