Diss Museum is celebrating yet another successful funding bid, with £6,625 for its Tom Paine Festival, from November to June.

  The Awards For All grant will enable the museum to commemorate the bi-centenary of the death of the Cock (Denmark) Street staymaker who 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 welfare state, benefits, education funding and pensions - unknown in his day - all stemmed from his ideas.

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

  On 10 January story teller 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.

  18th 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 folk-rock band The Men They Couldn't Hang, whose song The Colours mentions Paine.

  There will be free transport to Thetford for their bi-centenary weekend celebrations early in June 2009.

  Renowned playwright and scriptwriter Trevor Griffiths will talk about his film script These Are The Times.

   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 that 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.