The meal is part of a festival of events being run by Diss Museum to mark the 200th anniversary in 2009 of the death of Thomas Paine, who is revered in America as the author of three books – Common Sense, Rights Of Man and The Age Of Reason.

Other events during the festival, which will get into full swing during the first half of 2009, will include storytelling with Hugh Lupton and Nick Hennessey, at the United Reformed Church on January 10 with Liberty Tree tracing the History of Dissent from Robin Hood to Thomas Paine.

Period underwear will be featured on January 24, at the United Reformed Church, to commemorate Paine's staymaking in Diss.

On January 31, there will be an 18th Century evening with people dressing up, having fun and reading from novels, plays and poems at the Friends Meeting House.

February 6 will see The Big Debate on whether Paine was a great man or an agent of destruction, with Tim Holt-Wilson speaking for Paine and Dr Adrian Bailey speaking against.

There will also be a film showing, made locally, about Paine while the film society will screen Stanley Kubrick's film Barry Lyndon at Diss Corn Hall on May 23.

From February 16 to 21, a tapestry exhibition will be held in the Stables Gallery, with displays by the embroidery group, art group and the spinners, weavers and dyers, and visitors can sample 18th Century food in St Mary's Hall on February 28.

From mid-March, the museum will feature a Paine display, including a study of the history of Denmark Street where he worked.

Horses Brawl return to Diss for a ceilidh at the Corn Hall on March 21, and on April 11, the Norwich Early Dance Group will perform 18th Century dance in Mere's Mouth.

American War Of Independence re-enactors will be in town on May 2, and Peter Clark, author of The Lefties Guide To Britain, will run a tour of Radical Diss on May 10, including the unveiling of a Paine plaque in Beehive Yard.

Folk-rock band The Men They Couldn't Hang, whose song The Colours mentions Paine, appear at Garboldisham Village Hall on May 30, supported by Magic Folk.

Playwright and scriptwriter Trevor Griffiths will talk about writing a film version of Paine's life at the United Reformed Church on June 13.
Diss Museum has released a CD as part of its forthcoming Tom Paine Festival.

Called Thomas Paine: A Man For All Reason, it features a narration of the author's own stirring words, which launched social change across two continents.

There is also a dramatisation and music as Paine's life is traced from humble Norfolk beginnings to involvement in two revolutions.
Museum manager Basil Abbott wrote the script, narrates and also speaks Paine's lines.

The CD is produced by Clive Davies of the Sonic Zone Studio, in East Harling, and copies are available at £5 from the Diss Museum and the Tourist Information Centre.

For tickets and festival information phone Diss Museum, 01379 650618, visit Diss Library or the Tourist Information Centre.