Liz Nicholls gets a sneak preview of something old and something new at the Explore Oxford exhibition at the Town Hall before its public launch on June 23 TRUST me, the story of Oxford is more gripping than a whole box-set of Morse.

And, as with all the best plots, it has been driven by a cast of colourful characters ever since the city’s birth in 910AD.

So the spotlight is on Explore Oxford – a brand new museum exhibition dedicated to the people who have made this living, breathing city sparkle.

The Museum Of Oxford went dark last autumn and now the new galleries have emerged, all singing and dancing, in time for this summer. And on Saturday, June 23, the Town Hall in St Aldate’s, moments from Carfax Tower, will unveil an interactive experience which should tug at the hearts of born-and-bred locals and fly-by-night tourists.

A tall order? Not when you consider how much material is at hand and how creatively it has been presented, scooping funding of £43,600 from Heritage Lottery Fund and £48,628 from WREN (Waste, Recycling, Environmental).

For one thing, democracy has played a part in this event, which befits this almighty stately setting which seeps history from every panel.

If you’ve never stepped inside the Town Hall, it’s worth it to see the majestic courtroom and ceilings barnacled in beautiful plasterwork as well as to breathe the same air the Rolling Stones and Shakespeare have shared. So many more claims to fame than most council houses, you can take it all in thanks to free tours on the open day.

This spring, Oxford Mail readers were asked to vote for their favourite modern characters of Oxford. They picked author Colin Dexter and nuclear disarmament campaigner and political pioneer Olive Gibb (1918-95). Mr Dexter will attend the event, taking his place among the dozen mighty figures celebrated.

Spanning the history of Oxford, the diverse gang of men and women is made up of people too fascinating to be fictional, including Anglo-saxon abbess St Frideswide (650-727) who fled to Binsey Wood to avoid being married off. Modern feminism, eat your heart out!

And think Oxford’s key claims to wizardry are the Harry Potter movies? Check out Roger Bacon (1214-92), a medieval scholar whose visionary thinking on nature gained him the reputation of wizard in popular folklore. All of human life is here – and each character deserves your attention.

Also, fittingly for the ultimate in the city’s public spaces, this exhibition is very much hands-on – whatever the size of your fingers.

Step inside and you’ll find yourself in the office of Oxford’s Victorian city engineer William White (who will be played by the Oxford Mail’s very own toilet tzar Jeremy Smith on the open day).

Rummage through his drawers to find out what he was working on, discover artefacts and check out the maps on his drawing table to find out how Oxford has changed.

This is a lucky dip of information for all ages – some buttons trigger memories collected from Oxford’s neighbours thanks to the city council’s reminiscence project.

Bringing you bang up to date, stepping over the threshold to the modern era showcases some of the items that also tell the story of Oxford for culture magpies – including Alice Liddell’s biscuit tin and the pot of Frank Cooper marmalade which was found guzzled at Scott’s Antarctic.

And, if cycling around the city’s cultural highlights has always appealed (but less so the pain of pedestrians and painfully slow pedal power), the museum’s virtual high-speed bike ride is a must.

Saddle up and journey north, south, east and west to see which colleges and other curios you might like to visit on an actual trip, as well as those you would not normally get to see, such as inside BMW’s MINI plant. Bike rides just took a spin into the 21st century – very cool.

This being a project that is very much powered by personality, you can also add your own human resource to the cause by volunteering to create trails and become guides to spread the word.

Real people power.

Now that is worth celebrating.

* The Explore Oxford galleries hold an Open Day launch 10am-5pm on June 23 and all are welcome. Staff and volunteers will don Victorian costume and the day will feature free Town Hall tours, face-painting, family activities and a tea room.

The galleries feature recordings from the Memory Lane sessions. These are monthly meetings, held in the Town Hall, that bring members of the community together to reminisce about Oxford’s past. Get involved by calling Helen Fountain on 01865 252795 Family groups who could create trails and guides are needed to keep telling the story of Oxford. Contact Vanessa Lea on 01865 252086 if you have a few hours to spare.