I TOOK my three children into Oxford earlier this week to visit the Museum of Oxford at the Town Hall. Well, what a let down! It was just two rooms with a few dreary exhibits in cabinets.

For a city with such a varied and prestigious history, the museum was a huge disappointment.

Perhaps the city councillors that run it should visit the city/town museums in Winchester, Bristol, Reading, Cheltenham and Banbury. These places have made a real effort and seem very proud of their local history.

I appreciate we have other world-famous museums in the city but Oxford deserves a proper museum. We should be celebrating the lives of William Morris (both of them), JRR Tolkien, Lewis Carroll, CS Lewis, Ronnie Barker, Roger Bannister, Colin Dexter and even Oxford United. We have a beautiful city, famous throughout the world – let’s celebrate it, not shove it away in a pokey corner of the town hall.

After we’d done the museum (under 10 minutes), I took the children upstairs so they could see the main hall. There was no one in there but as we stuck our heads in the door a security man pounced on us from behind: “The public aren’t allowed up here sir.” We quickly departed.

Come on city council, give us a proper museum that reflects our city’s great heritage and give your officials a few lessons in public relations.

RICHARD MORRIS

Hailey Road

Witney