Award helps museum start-up

A military museum charting the Island's contribution to the two world wars has been chosen as the fourth and final winner of the United Friendly Investing in Your Community scheme.

The awards, a joint initiative between the life assurance, savings and investment firm and the Manx Independent, have now seen four monthly cheques for £250 handed out to good causes, charities or community schemes.

The museum will be housed in a former bungalow in an area on Ronaldsway airfield and is the brainchild of members of the Manx Aviation Preservation Society (MAPS).

Members are working hard in their spare time to get the museum ready for business by the end of July.

MAPS Secretary Ivor Ramsden said the £250 award was a welcome boost to funds and would be used to pay for decorating the exterior of the building, including security lights and signs.

Ivor explained: "The work is progressing well and we are hoping to open by the end of July, although that is subject to the airport putting a security fence around the site."

"The redecoration of the interior is almost complete and we'll be starting on the exterior soon, along with erecting the display cabinets, for which we have had a grant from Mann 2000 and for which we are very grateful."

"We've also had a grant from the Royal Canadian Air Force for around £450. I wrote to them explaining there were quite a lot of Canadians killed here during the war and they came back to me saying how would we like a grant."

"With that money we can look at a small memorial garden with a plaque dedicated to the Canadians who died, but that is a project for next year."

Ivor added: "The museum will be something to be proud of when it is finished. We are not cutting corners."

"We owe a lot to the people who served here and we want to do justice to them."

"The United Friendly award is very welcome. It is good that people support is in this way. We are working very hard and we are glad that we are being supported by people showing they have confidence in us."

United Friendly Area Sales Manager Ken Harron said: "The museum will be a source of information for everyone, whether local or from afar."

"It will appeal to everyone, whether carrying out specific research or on a family afternoon out, providing an enjoyable learning experience which will pass on aspect of the Island's heritage to a wider audience."

The three previous winners of the Investing In Your Community award were Colby Football Club, Foxdale Playground Appeal 2000 and the Isle of Man Guide Association.