I AGREE with Steve Palmer (Letters, July 11); the museum is to be congratulated on its presentation. But the sad fact remains that Newport needs a larger museum than it has and much of its collection remains unseen.

Some years ago I intended to offer an item to the museum and was recommended by the man at the desk not to do so.

He told me my donation would be buried and possibly forgotten.

The item in question was a scale model of a GWR King class locomotive built of wood except for the pistons and screws. It was made by the late Tom Addis, of Halstead Street, who was a skilled carpenter, who also made six other models, also of wood, and was given to me as a present.

I decided others should enjoy it as well asmyself as it is a lovely thing to behold, a masterpiece of construction.

The wheels turn and the pistons and connecting rods are operative. It now rests in its own glass cage in a steam railway museum.

TomMcCarthy, Gaer Park Parade, Newport