DISS Museum is celebrating yet another successful funding bid with £6,625 for its Tom Paine Festival. The Awards For All grant will enable the museum to commemorate the bicentenary of the death of Paine, who worked as a staymaker in Cock (Denmark) Street and went on to world fame in the late 1700s.

DISS Museum is celebrating yet another successful funding bid with £6,625 for its Tom Paine Festival.

The Awards For All grant will enable the museum to commemorate the bicentenary of the death of Paine, who worked as a staymaker in Cock (Denmark) Street and went on

to world fame in the late

1700s.

He wrote the three best-selling works of the 18th century - Common Sense, Rights of Man and The Age of Reason - and was a huge influence on modern society.

The festival will begin on November 7 when TV and radio comedian Mark Steel, described as “the funniest Marxist since Groucho”, comes to Diss Corn Hall.

On January 10 storyteller Hugh Lupton comes to the UR Church with his presentation of The Liberty Tree, a history of dissent from Robin Hood to Tom Paine.

There will be a day devoted to 18th century underwear and a rollicking 18th century evening. A debate will give the audience the chance to decide whether Paine was a great man or not. Eighteenth century tapestries and food, a museum display, a concert/ceilidh by Horses

Brawl and dancing at the Mere's mouth by the Norwich Early Dance Group will add to the

fun.

American War of Independence re-enactors will visit the town, as well as Peter Clarke, author of The Lefties Guide to Britain, who will lead a tour of Radical Diss.

Music includes Burgate Singers performing Tippett's A Child of Our Time; and folk-rock band The Men They Couldn't Hang, whose song The Colours mentions Paine.

There will be free transport to Thetford for its bicentenary weekend celebrations early in June 2009.

A film and CD are being made, along with a booklet, postcard packs, bookmarks and other memorabilia.

Museum manager Basil Abbott said: “Diss has a good record for cultural projects. Having celebrated John Skelton and John Betjeman, Tom Paine was the obvious next one.”

He said there would be a printed programme nearer the time, or phone Diss Museum on (01379) 650618 for more details. Tickets will be available in Diss Library and Tourist Information Centre in due course.