内容摘要："Its refurbishment will allow even more people to enjoy the magic of global cinema in the heart of the city."

"Its refurbishment will allow even more people to enjoy the magic of global cinema in the heart of the city."

Mr Spooner's wife Sue, 68, who is also part of the management team, said: "Last week was a unique situation for us in that we didn't have any volunteers to open the museum to the public in the role we call 'front of house', where they meet and greet visitors."I think it is difficult for people [to volunteer], particularly on Friday mornings and Saturday afternoons, with [their] other commitments."

Mrs Spooner said volunteers needed to give the museum only two or three hours a month.The youngest volunteer is 16 and the oldest is in their mid-80s.Mr Spooner, 70, said: "One thing that is talked about a lot today is mental wellness, anxiety, loneliness and isolation. Volunteering at the museum gives people a chance to meet and engage with others.

"It is a chance to do something worthwhile [and] give something back to the community... You don't need to be an expert on local history – you just need to able to engage with visitors and be enthusiastic."He added that the museum was "an important pivot for the community, not just for looking back into the past but [for] looking to the future as the town grows".

Visitors to the museum can see a wealth of unusual objects, including mobile stocks from 1774 and an early "boneshaker" bicycle.

Other exhibits illustrate traditional aspects of Fenland life and the waterways, the railway boom and the wealth of a prosperous 19th Century market town.According to Bonhams, Clare Leighton "was one of the very few artists admitted to his office and was given the opportunity to sit with on multiple occasions to sketch and paint his likeness".

The works remained in the artist's collection until her death in 1989 in the US, after which it was passed down through her family.She was introduced to Gandhi through her partner and British political journalist, Henry Noel Brailsford, who was a strong supporter of India's independence movement.

In November 1931, Leighton showcased her portraits of Gandhi at an exhibition at the Albany Galleries in London.Though Gandhi did not attend the opening event, several representatives from the Indian delegation of the second Round Table were present.