It’s 15 years since the Manx Aviation and Military Museum opened at the airport and to celebrate, on Sunday, there will be free guided tours and a chance to see some of the museum’s treasures which aren’t normally on display.
Museum Director Ivor Ramsden said: ‘We opened on Remembrance Day 2000 and from that very first day people started bringing things in for us to display.
‘We have received so many exhibits that over the years we’ve extended the museum three times and we desperately need to extend again because we’ve run out of space.’
He added: ‘We’ve been very lucky because we’ve now got an unrivalled collection of objects depicting the aviation and military history of the island, and what an amazing history it is! It’s so big that we can’t possibly cover it all.
‘We try to tell the stories of the people who used the objects, and what they used them for, which is far more interesting than just having a number of random items in a cabinet.
‘We have been given so many things that a lot have to be kept in store because we simply don’t have the space to display everything. So, on November 8 we shall be putting some of our hidden treasures on show and we shall also have some interesting “hands on” objects for visitors to examine.’
Mr Ramsden went on to thank the many people and organisations who have helped make the museum such a success.
‘We have received grants for special projects like building extensions and the memorial garden from several local organisations like the Manx Lottery Trust, the Gough Ritchie Charitable Trust and Douglas Rotary Club,’ he said.
‘Local companies have helped us out, like Manx Petroleums who supply our heating oil, and then there are the hundreds of members of the public who have helped with cash donations.
‘The Department of Infrastructure owns the museum site and they have been very understanding and supportive, and then there are the museum members who have put in lots of their time. In particular I must mention Mike Corlett of Laxey who has done a huge amount of building and maintenance work for us.
‘Without all of their help, we simply wouldn’t have become such a success. Our visitor numbers have built up steadily and we are now getting over 6,000 visitors a year. Their comments are very pleasing. Only last weekend somebody described us as “inspirational” in our visitors’ book.’
Sunday’s tours will begin at midday and 2.30pm and will take about an hour unless, as Mr Ramsden warns: ‘I get carried away with my stories!’
The museum is open every day during half-term and every Saturday and Sunday through the winter from 10am to 4.30pm Admission is free.