'Hundreds' of National Trust members quit in protest over gay pride campaign

More than 240 members revoke membership after trust accused of 'outing' former lord of the manor

Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer was the last lord of Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk (Facebook)

Hundreds of National Trust (NT) members have reportedly quit over the charity's decision to require volunteers at one property to wear LGBT lanyards.

The NT has found itself at the centre of controversy after volunteers at Norfolk’s Felbrigg Hall were asked to wear the rainbow-coloured neckwear to celebrate the last lord of the manor, Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer, who was gay.

But the decision provoked a furious backlash from volunteers who accused the trust of "outing" the late owner and infringing on their political freedoms.

More than 240 members have since contacted the NT to revoke their membership over the scandal, according to the Daily Telegraph.

It comes after NT chiefs told volunteers at Felbrigg Hall those who did not wish to wear the pride memorabilia would not be allowed to carry out public facing duties in the 17th century hall.

At least 75 volunteers at the Norfolk site are said to be protesting the order, according to the MailOnline.

Relatives of the former squire criticised the trust, saying Mr Wyndham Ketton-Cremer was "intensely private" and should not have been "outed".

Mr Wyndham Ketton-Cremer died in 1969, aged 63, just two years after homosexuality was decriminalised.

He was featured in a short NT film last month narrated by Stephen Fry called The Unfinished Portrait.

The campaign is part of the Trust’s Prejudice and Pride season, that marks 50 years since homosexuality was decriminalised.

Annabel Smith, head of volunteering and participation development at the Trust, said volunteers sign up to the organisation's "founding principles" of promoting equality of opportunity and inclusion.

"We do recognise that some volunteers may have conflicting, personal opinions," she said.

"However whilst volunteering for the National Trust we do request and expect individuals to uphold the values of the organisation. We encourage people with any concerns to chat to our teams. As part of Prejudice and Pride we have worked closely with Stonewall and the University of Leicester who have been providing training and support to help as many volunteers as possible feel confident to take part."