I have decided to start a campaign to promote the formation of a Vale Museum, a campaign started by John Storrie more than a century ago.

I feel a museum would not only be the centre for the presentation of our collective past, but a home for the research of our natural history, arts and science.

A museum for display and research would be ideally suited for the Vale. Various issues of the day could be studied.

For example, did you know that we have seen the total demise of the now protected triturus cristatus (great crested newt) from most areas of the Vale of Glamorgan in just over 10 years? And did you know that further discoveries of dinosaur footprints have been made on our coast in recent years?

I would like to hear from anybody who would like to be involved in the campaign to form a Vale Museum. Initially we would not be forming a charity as we will not be fundraising, but may organise the occasional meeting. We would produce leaflets, collect petitions and organise publicity.

Contact me on 01446 781585 or karljlangford@hotmail.com

Karl-James Langford PGDip (Leicester), Bonvilston.