THE governor of the Bank of England will be presenting a commemorative £20 note to Elgar Birthplace Museum.

While visiting the region on Monday, July 9, Mervyn King will make a detour to visit the Lower Broadheath museum. He will have a chance to see the cottage where Elgar was born and to view the adjacent modern Elgar Centre.

Elgar has appeared on the Bank of England's £20 note since 1999. Given the popularity of the note among counterfeiters, a new £20 note has been introduced bearing the image of Scottish economist Adam Smith.

Museum director Catherine Sloan said: "We are very pleased to welcome Mervyn King and delighted to accept such a gift for the archive.

"Changing the £20 note in 2007, the 150th anniversary year of the birth of Elgar, has upset supporters but the Bank assures us that he will still be seen on the majority of £20 notes during this special year."

To mark the 150th anniversary of one of Britain's finest composers, a nationwide appeal called Donate an Elgar has been launched.

Proceeds from this, in which people are asked to give a £20 note bearing his image, will go to help secure the future of the museum. For more information, visit www.elgarfoundation. org/150_fr.htm.