The Somerset Cricket Museum, which first opened it's doors in 1989, has received an early 21st birthday present by way of a legacy of more than £250,000.

The legacy has been left by Miss Patricia Watts, although the trustees of the Museum think that Miss Watts was probably following the wishes of her brother, Mr David Watts, who was an active member of Somerset County Cricket Club in the Bath area until his death in 2004.

The Museum is situated in the Old Priory Barn, a Grade Two listed building, and although it is located within the boundaries of the County Ground in Taunton behind the Centre of Excellence, is run entirely as an independent organization and is a registered charity.

The team of dedicated volunteers who initially raised £100,000 to enable the Somerset Cricket Museum to be established, have over the years assembled a fascinating and varied collection of Somerset cricketing memorabilia, as well as a reference and lending library.

The future of the Somerset Cricket Museum which is widely acclaimed as one of the best of it's kind in the country now looks to be secure- thanks to this legacy.

Chairman Charles Clive Ponsonby- Fane said: "We think that in 2004 Mr David Watts died and left his estate to his sister with the understanding that when she died the Cricket Museum would be one of her beneficiaries.  Miss Patricia Watts died in August of this year, leaving us the legacy."

He added: "Next year will be the Museum's twenty first birthday.  This generous gift will allow us all a wonderful opportunity to look back on all that has been achieved and explore our aspirations for the future.  It is my hope that we can safeguard the wellbeing of the Somerset Cricket Museum for the generations to come."

The Somerset Cricket Museum is now closed for the winter but will re-open it's doors on the first Tuesday in April 2010, when a whole array of new exhibits and displays will be on view.

(The Chairman (Left) and Curator (Right) are clearly delighted by the news of the legacy)

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