A MUSEUM dedicated to the region’s own Army regiment is making a little bit of history on its own.

The award-winning Green Howards Regimental Museum in Richmond has appointed its first-ever woman curator.

Lynda Powell, who previously worked for Richmondshire District Council, took up the post at the beginning of the month.

And she is looking forward to moving the museum forward, while ensuring that it continues to reflect the long history of the Green Howards.

A graduate of Lancaster University, Lynda, 39, did a post-graduate course in museum studies at Leicester University and afterwards worked as curator of a local museum and library in the Lake District.

She arrived in Richmond eight years ago to take up the post of museums officer, and later became head of partnerships for the district council.

As museums officer she advised the Green Howards Museum in several ways, and prepared its successful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for money to refurbish the ground floor.

"I’m really pleased to be able to come back to the museum, and to the kind of job that I really enjoy," she said.

"The stories associated with the regiment are so powerful, and the museum is so much a part of the local community, that it’s a privilege to be appointed as curator.’ Although she has no military background, Lynda does have one link with the Green Howards.

She shares her middle name, Alma, not only with several generations of her family but also with the regiment - the Battle of the Alma, which took place in September 1856 during the Crimean War, was its first major battle honour.