Press Release

The Trustees of Apsley Paper Trail, an industrial heritage and education centre housed in the historic Frogmore Paper Mill, has begun a new chapter. The Trustees are delighted to announce that Elena Lewendon has joined the Trust as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Elena comes to us with a wealth of museum experience, most recently as Curator of the London Fire Brigade Museum where she was responsible for managing a vast historic collection, extensive archive and historical properties. She later became Project Manager for a major Lottery funded museum re-development project. Her background lies originally in Classics and Archaeology which she studied at Warwick University, followed by a Master’s Degree in Cultural Heritage Studies and Archaeological Site Management at the prestigious Institute of Archaeology at University College London.

She acts as an advisor to museums, charities and other organisations on issues such as fundraising, achieving and maintaining Arts Council Accreditation and developing audiences. She is a serving Director for the Emery Walker Trust which runs the best preserved Arts & Crafts house in the world in Hammersmith, London.

John Watson, Chair of the Apsley Paper Trail Trust, said: “We are thrilled that Elena has come on board, bringing with her some fantastic skills which we need to take APT forward. We are confident that her passion and enthusiasm for the Gade Valley story and its national and worldwide influence, will help us reach the next stage of our development. Elena certainly has the support of our fantastic staff and volunteers who have worked tirelessly through the pandemic to secure the Trust’s future.”

Elena said: ‘It is wonderful to be part of Apsley Paper Trail’s story. The plans for the future are bold, exciting and ambitious. To help us tell the story of paper and its role in our collective past, and undoubtedly our future, we will dramatically expand our work with the community and schools, supporting creativity and the arts as well as science, technology and engineering. We will develop the visitor experience at Frogmore Mill and ensure that as well as transforming into a carbon neutral organisation, we become a source of education, training and inspiration for the local community and beyond to help us all in the battle against climate change’.

Elena joined the team on 1st November 2021.