Soldiers On The March
Silloth's new tourist attraction plans to open on Easter Saturday, April 7th 2012. Exhibits will include a large-scale "diorama" (a table-top model) representing the Battle of Waterloo and toy soldiers from around the world dressed in uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars.
Other figures show soldiers of Ancient Egypt, Hadrian's wall and almost every period of warfare up to World War II along with forts and castles, cannons and catapults, chariots and tanks and eventually a mock-up of part of a World War I trench. Some of the toys are over a century old, made in Europe, America, Japan and (of course) Hong Kong. There are Victorian lead soldiers of the sort Winston Churchill used to play with and modern plastic ones like those in "Toy Story".
The attraction has received funding from Silloth Town Council, Solway Neighbourhood Forum, Cumbria Waste Management and from some local businesses. It will be staffed by volunteers. The management board are still appealing for funds and would welcome as many volunteers as possible to keep the exhibition open during the holiday season and at weekends. Even if you can offer only one hour per week it would be a great help.
Soldiers in Silloth will be a great new asset to bring visitors into Silloth. If you would like to be involved please contact John Hope (company Chair) on Silloth 31873 or Tim Barker (31246).
If you would like to donate to Soldiers in Silloth Ltd, the Treasurer is Margaret Pickering at 227 Skinburness Rd CA7 4QS