Wheelchair tennis star Jordanne Whiley opens new Dudley museum - with VIDEO and PICTURES
Dudley's glistening new museum featuring exhibits from sporting heroes to ancient fossils was officially opened today by wheelchair tennis star Jordanne Whiley MBE.
The 25-year-old cut the ribbon at Dudley Museum before dozens of people flocked inside the corridors to look at the historic items on show.
The family of Duncan Edwards, the Dudley-born Manchester United player who died in the Munich air crash in 1958, also attended the opening of the museum, which houses some of his former sporting wear.
It was also revealed at the opening that contingents from Manchester and Munich will be visiting Dudley next week for a tour of Duncan's home town - ahead of the 60th anniversary next year of the air crash that claimed the lives of 23 people, including eight of the 'Busby Babes' footballers from Manchester United.
Other sporting items on show include Jordanne's tennis kit that she wore while playing in Wimbledon.
Jordanne said: "I'm glad to be here. I didn't know what the museum was going to be like inside. I had a tour around the place and I didn't know there was so much stuff here.
"My favourite part is probably the Roman section with the coins.
"I have donated my Wimbledon kit to the collection."
The museum, based on Tipton Road, forms part of Dudley's tourism hub. Nearby is Dudley Zoo and Castle and the Black Country Living Museum.
The collection is made up of items which came from the former Dudley Museum, which closed down in Dudley town centre in December.
Inside the new one are further exhibits containing robotic dinosaurs, ancient fossils and medieval clothing.
