LAWRENCE House Museum has announced the appointment of Dr Damon Dennis as their new interim curator.

Having worked in both the Ashmolean and Pitt Rivers museums in Oxford, Dr Dennis took his first degree in archaeology at Oxford University and then did his PhD in anthropology at University College, London.

He said recently: “I am keen to get more Launcestonians, especially young people, to come to visit the museum and to consider volunteering to help in a variety of ways so that they feel they have a stake in the museum and the town.”

When he met volunteer stewards at the town hall recently, he said how important they were in bringing to life and keeping alive the stories of the artefacts on display in the museum and hinted that there might be a museum festival next year and more opportunities for visitors to handle items in the museum’s collections.

Following the retirement of Jake Jackson as curator earlier this year after an association of over 20 years, there has been something of an interregnum during which volunteers and town councillors alike have worked hard to ensure the museum has continued as usual and is now open on Saturdays.

Dr Dennis’ present appointment is on an interim basis until December 20, to allow Launceston Town Council time to consider and set a budget for the museum for 2020. However in the meantime he will have lots of work to do guiding the museum until the end of its 2019 season on October 25, and planning for the 2020 season when the museum re-opens in spring.

A museum spokesperson said: “A majority of visitors to the museum say it is the best small museum they have ever visited, so come and see for yourselves before the end of October.” Lawrence House Museum is open from Monday to Saturday from 10.30am to 4.30pm — last entry 4pm.

Entry to the museum is still free so people can come as often as they like. To contact the museum by telephone call 01566 773277 or email them at [email protected]

To find out more, visit www.lawrencehousemuseum.org