Although most cases contain themed exhibits, we were unable to resist the temptation to present the steadfast toy soldier in his natural environment of battles and parades. Thus we have, the Delhi Durbar (1911), Coronation (1937), Jubilee (1897) and Victory (1945) parades, contrasting sharply with the battles of Stirling Bridge (1297), Prestonpans (1745), Waterloo (1815), Gettysburg (1863), Omdurman (1898), Foreign Legion in Action (c. 1900) and Mons (1914), with the Muster for the British Civil Wars (c. 1641) and British army Manoeuvres (1897) coming uneasily between them.

In addition to purely military layouts, we have comprehensive (Photo of farm,) displays of model railway related figures, farm, zoo and garden, plus an enchanting exhibition of Disney and nursery rhyme related figures, which is always a hit with our younger visitors.

To complement our R.A.F. and pilot figures we have two cases of model aeroplanes ranging from an Edwardian model of Bleriot’s monoplane to post-war Dinky jets arranged on a late 1930s wooden model aerodrome. In the same way, our railway personnel are set in context with 1930s Hornby locomotives, rolling stock and accessories.

A unique feature of our exhibition is the wide variety of models of figures from ancient times, particularly Assyria, Old Testament Israel, Greece and Rome, many of which were converted from other figures and all of which are hand painted, most to competition standards. (Photo of BR case)

The Collection still gets added to, wherever we can find space, and, bearing in mind, Philip’s obsessive tendencies, you will not be surprised to learn that there are yet more soldier and civilian figures infiltrated into the rest of the Museum.......