Former RAMM manager Camilla Hampshire awarded MBE for cultural services in Exeter

Camilla Hampshire, the former long-serving manager of Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM), has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the King’s Birthday Honours for her services to culture in Exeter.

Hampshire dedicated her entire professional life to the culture and heritage sector, spending 22 years at the helm of RAMM, one of Exeter City Council’s flagship cultural services. Under her leadership, RAMM underwent a remarkable transformation from a promising regional institution into an award-winning museum of national and international standing, recognised for the depth and significance of its collection and its commitment to community engagement.

“It was a huge surprise. It is an enormous personal honour and of course I am thrilled. I loved my time at RAMM, and it has been a pleasure to serve the people of Exeter and Devon, but everything achieved has only been possible because I was surrounded by a wonderful team. I hope everyone will also see this as recognition for RAMM and of all that the team continues to do,” said Hampshire in response to the honour.

During her tenure, Hampshire was instrumental in securing a major refurbishment completed in 2011, which saw the Victorian museum building undergo a £24 million redevelopment. The project not only modernised the gallery spaces but also significantly improved public access to RAMM’s extensive and eclectic collection, comprising over one million objects, ranging from zoology and ethnography to fine art and archaeology.

In 2012, just one year after reopening, RAMM was crowned Art Fund Museum of the Year, further cementing its place as a cultural cornerstone in the South West. The museum has continued to build on its reputation as a vital space, creating inclusive programmes and educational initiatives for all ages.

Exeter City Council Chief Executive Bindu Arjoon praised Hampshire’s enduring legacy, stating: “Camilla championed the museum as an important civic space and worked tirelessly to connect local people with their shared history and each other, promoting social cohesion and building a sense of Exeter as an excellent place to live, work and study. We are delighted that she has received this award.”

Since stepping down from her position at RAMM in December 2023, Hampshire has remained deeply engaged in the region’s cultural landscape. She is currently involved with the Friends of RAMM, and serves as a trustee for MAKE Southwest - a centre for contemporary craft in Bovey Tracey - and the Bridport Museum Trust in Dorset.

A passionate advocate for the power of museum collections, Hampshire has long believed in using historical objects to prompt reflection, broaden understanding, and tell new stories. Her MBE is recognition not only of her personal achievements, but also of RAMM’s role as a dynamic cultural force within Devon.