THE doors to Tavistock Museum were officially opened to the public at Easter, marking the start of the 2009 season.

Everyone who attended the launch of the season viewed the three new exhibitions on Dartmoor Past and Present, Scouting in Tavistock, and Tavistock's Royal Artillery Roll Call 1939.

The exhibition of the royal artillery has been organised by Tavistock historian and author Gerry Woodcock.

Gerry's exhibition features a unique photograph of 139 men pictured on the evening before they left Tavistock for France to join the second world war.

Following the death of Don Connett, two years ago, work has continued to preserve the photo.

Don had started the naming of his comrades on the photo and this task has been ably continued by Garth Wright, secretary of the BEF Veterans of Dunkirk, Plymouth. Some names are still to be completed and relatives can play a part in this identification.

The original photo has been scanned and enlarged so that all the men are clearly visible and each has been numbered to allow a key of the names to be produced.

The museum will be open daily from 11am to 3pm until the end of October 2009.