I would like to correct an unfortunate impression created by your front page item about the Almonry Heritage Centre (officially it has not been a museum for several years) and its funding.

When the Almonry building was transferred to the town by the Rudge family I believe that it was done on the understanding that it would be used as a museum, which function it has performed (first as a museum and then as a heritage centre) for nearly 50 years.

Your article did not make mention of the Vale of Evesham Historical Society, whose founder members created the first museum and which has been intimately associated with the heritage centre since its earliest days.

The Society's members freely contribute their skills, knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to maintain and develop the building and its unique collection.

Running costs are kept to a minimum not only by the sensible decisions taken on operating the Tourist Information Centre in the Almonry but also by this substantial body of volunteers ranging from a master cabinet maker to a masterly gardener. If the services they provide were charged for at commercial rates they would amount to tens of thousands of pounds a year, and many of those charges are unavoidable.

The Almonry is a Grade II* listed building. Change of use would be next to impossible to arrange and the building would have to be maintained whether there was anything inside it or not.

Nor is it correct to intimate that Evesham Town Council have ever given less than unstinting support to the Almonry.

No organisation or institution could have had better friends. There are good business reasons to support the Almonry, too.

If the Almonry does not pay its way direct through takings on the door it does draw visitors to the town and every visitor spends money in local shops, restaurants and cafes.

So the balance sheet is not as simple as your article suggests and, looked at from this point of view, the Almonry earns the town, directly or indirectly, more money than it costs.

The Almonry has, for many years, being looking for new ways to serve the town, new types of event to stage, new ways to reach a wider public. Your article made this sound like a measure of desperation. Far from it.

One example of a current initiative is School Outreach, aiming to make the Heritage Centre a valuable educational resource for the entire Vale.

If any of your readers have ideas about other types of events that the Almonry might be used for I am sure that Mike Rowe and his team would be happy to hear them.

The Almonry is Evesham's second trademark building after the bell tower, an asset to the town and part of what makes Evesham unique - I have travelled extensively in the UK and I do not know of another place quite like the Almonry.

Pay a visit if you have not been before, enjoy our town's history and take pride in living in a uniquely important place. The full story is in the Almonry.

David Snowden, Four Pools, Evesham.