IT ISN’T essential to have a world-renowned rock star to back your campaign, but it helps.

In the case of the wonderful St Barbe Museum in the New Forest supporters have been able to call on the backing of multi-millionaire guitarist John Illsley to help launch their bid to provide a £2m facelift to the facility.

The bassist with Dire Straits – on the world’s most successful rock bands – has thrown his weight behind the push for the final £500,000 needed to realise the museum’s project.

As supporters heard at a meeting reported in today’s Daily Echo, the money will not just pay for the refit of the museum, but help fund activities for local people stretching into the future.

As an example of how the arts can work with a community St Barbe has a strong story to tell. Small it may be but with big ambitions and, obviously, strong links to some of the big hitters in the art world.

The St Barbe project is dwarfed by the multi-million pound arts complex development now taking shape in Southampton.

In many ways the two projects are however linked in ensuring that culture continues to play a strong role in the life of our part of Hampshire.

As well as his undoubted musical talents as a performer, Mr Illsley is a painter and the link with the St Barbe Museum is obvious.

If his fame on the stage as a rock star attracts an audience anew for this campaign it is to be welcomed.