On Wednesday 15^th of July I attended the Museums Libraries and Archives Council summer reception in Parliament to discuss the merits and future development of our museums, libraries and archives.

At the reception I had the pleasure of viewing the Staffordshire Hoard: the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon artefacts ever discovered, it was a fantastic sight and one that I want all Brummies to be able to enjoy. It is for this reason that I supported the campaign to buy and keep the Hoard in the West Midlands and am grateful to those who raised the money to buy the collection, however funds are still required for cleaning, research and ensuring a long term display of the Hoard- but i hope that with increased awareness public investment will guarentee that the funds are raised successfully.

Amongst other items on display was the ball used in the 1966 World Cup final, in which England triumphed over Germany to win the ultimate prize in  international football. The ball was bought in 1996 and is currently on loan to the National Football Museum. This along with all articles exhibited at the reception serve as a clear reminder of how tangible the past can remain if we make an effort to preserve it.