BURY'S Fusilier Museum Appeal has been given the royal seal of approval.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent was guest-of-honour at a special luncheon at Bury Town Hall in aid of the creation of a regimental museum in the heart of the town's cultural quarter.

The event was attended by around 200 people, including civic leaders, business chiefs, representatives from local organisations and campaign volunteers.

During his speech, the Duke of Kent, who is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, spoke of his family's close ties to the Fusiliers during the last 300 years.

He said: "My connections with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers go back almost 40 years when in 1969 I was privileged to be asked by Her Majesty to become their first Colonel-in-Chief. My father and my grandfather, later King George V, were both Colonels of the Royal Fusiliers and my great-great-great-grandfather, the father of Queen Victoria, commanded the Royal Fusiliers in Gibraltar and in Canada in 1789.

"I am delighted to give my support for my regiment and specifically for this Museum Appeal. The new museum will illustrate the achievements and sacrifices of today's Fusiliers in Northern Ireland, in Bosnia, in Kosovo, in Iraq and, as the Regimental Collect says wherever the Fusiliers will be called upon to serve'.

"I mentioned the sacrifices of this generation of Fusiliers and, even in the relatively short time since the regiment was formed on St George's Day 1968, I have witnessed 34 Fusiliers of all ranks killed in action or by terrorists, and a further nine who have lost their lives while training. I am aware of eight members of the regiment who are now amputees, three of them in the last 12 months. This museum project will ensure they are not forgotten." Prior to the start of the luncheon and the arrival of the Duke of Kent, Colonel Brian Gorski, the deputy colonel of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Lancashire), gave a short presentation on the museum project to guests and supporters of the appeal.

The Fusiliers Museum is currently based at Wellington Barracks in Bolton Road, but will move into the Arts and Crafts Centre in the town centre. The new location in the historic Grade II listed building will provide space at ground floor level for a museum which will be the focus of the new Lancashire Fusiliers Headquarters.

It will house a collection of memorabilia from the Lancashire Fusiliers and become home to the growing collection of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. There will also be other attractions, including a cafe, shop and education and meeting facilities.

The cost of the move, restoration and extension of the Arts and Crafts Centre is estimated at £3.3 million. Bury Council have handed over the 125-year lease on the building for free and the Heritage Lottery Fund has promised a grant of £2 million towards the project, subject to the regiment finding matching funding for the remaining £1.3 million which has to be secured or promised by September, 2006.

Colonel Mike Glover, from the appeal, said: "The appeal committee is delighted with the support it has received from the people of Bury and other sponsors which has raised some £800,000 to date, leaving another £500,000 to be raised to meet the target."