In Gloucester we’re fortunate to have a lot of history. In fact, 2000 years of it! But, in the past, we’ve been guilty of underplaying it. Until recently, our City Council-run museums were the same as they had been when I’d wandered around them as a schoolchild (and that was quite a long time ago!). And they certainly didn’t tell the story of Gloucester in an engaging way.

In 2011 we refurbished the ground floor of the City Museum in Brunswick Road and now have plans to complete the transformation by giving the first floor of the Museum a makeover – hopefully with some help from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Folk Museum in Westgate Street has been closed over the winter during the week to give our museums officers the chance to refresh the displays there and carry out some maintenance work, but it is now open again, so do call in and see the difference!

We’ve had some exciting events and exhibitions at our museums in recent times. In March (between 19th-30th), we have the visit of the reconstructed head of Richard III. There has been renewed interest in the life of this former monarch since his remains were dug up in a Leicester car park in September 2012. He was Duke of Gloucester, so our claim to grab a share of this curiosity is a strong one. Consequently, we have begged and borrowed a number of other Richard III artefacts and are putting on a programme of speakers and concerts alongside the exhibition. For more information see www.gloucestermuseums.co.uk.

In April, we will be displaying our collection of “Tudor Portraits” which haven’t been seen for some time – so that will be well worth a visit too.

The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum at the Docks is currently closed for a Heritage Lottery Fund- supported refurbishment and the Gloucester Waterways Museum, largely staffed by volunteers, is hoping for some HLF generosity too.

We have some great history in Gloucester and we’re now starting to make the most of it.