Friday July 25th 2025
West Lothian Military Museum owner, Ian Inglis
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
A military museum hunting for a new home has unveiled plans to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day with a street party.
West Lothian’s military museum has seen an upsurge in visitors and wider support in the month since it was revealed that it will have to relocate from its current home in the grounds of the war-blind veterans estate at Linburn, Wilkieston.
And museum owner Ian Inglis revealed they hoped to attract more crowds.
He said: “We will be open as normal on the 15 of August, from 10am to 4pm. We will have a special exhibition on the far east campaign including a diorama of Bridge over the River Kwai, made by our resident modeller. Normal entry fees apply to the museum.
“We will also be having a street party between 11am to 4pm, and anyone is welcome to come along, there is no charge for that.”
He added that tea/coffee/ juice will be supplied but people should bring along food. There is no charge but all donations are welcome.
Ian also revealed there would be a talk by best-selling author Mary Monro, who’s book Stranger in My Heart tells the remarkable story of her father’s escape from the Japanese occupiers of Hong Kong.
Ms Monro will be at the museum on the day signing copies of the book.
Ian told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Mary Monro wrote about her dad’s exploits in WWII. He was captured by the Japanese in Hong Kong and sent to a POW camp.
“He did manage to escape from the camp. It’s a fantastic book, there will be a few copies there to purchase that will be signed by the author.”
Founded by Ian, who served in the Royal Artillery, largely around his own collection of militaria the museum has become an award winning attraction.
The museum has also become a community hub for local veterans and hosts weekly breakfasts and other events to keep ex-servicemen and women connected. The museum is also staffed by ex service volunteers.
“We’re not just a museum we’re more than that, we’ re unique education resource. We we have the veterans hub as well. It would be ideal if we could stay locally, We don’t want to move to far away, we’d like to stay within easy access to the bridges.”
Such has been the success of the museum the search has been on for a while for a new home in the area. That hunt has gathered new urgency since the charity which owns Linburn – Sight Scotland Veterans – announced their intention to sell the estate for housing development.
The museum features indoors and outdoor exhibits of equipment, uniforms, vehicles, and even a First World War trench display.
Somewhere nearby for a new home would be ideal as a new home, as Ian pointed out. The museum’s growth in popularity draws visitors from across the UK and the world. Earlier this month an American family, rolled up from Edinburgh airport taking time out before checking into their hotel.
“We get a lot of that, and people going to the airport,” he said. “They have a few hours to kill before their flight so they pop in here.”
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