Halkirk Heritage and Vintage Motor Centre has opened for the 2023 season, with war-related exhibits at the heart of the updated display areas.

The theme ties in with the centenary of the village war memorial and volunteers have assembled a huge amount of artefacts including photographs, journals, documents, medals, helmets, gas masks and ration books.

Detailed dioramas crafted by John Brotherston depict scenes from World War I, while some moving personal stories are also featured.

The centre is home to a dozen vintage and classic vehicles, several of which are being exhibited for the first time this year – from a gleaming blue replica Bugatti to an old grey Fergie tractor – as well as sections covering different aspects of local history,

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place in April 2022 in the old village school in Sinclair Street. More than 1000 visitors were welcomed in the first year, and the 2023 season began with a preview evening for members and invited guests on Friday.

Chris Eyre, chairman of Halkirk Heritage and Vintage Motor Society, explained: "It's totally different from last year.

"Last year was a bit rough and ready. This year we've tried to be a little bit more professional.

"In the war display we have John Brotherston's excellent models and dioramas. He has been very helpful and he's got a vast knowledge of the First World War.

"I think it's important to remember people who served through both world wars and in conflicts beyond.

"There's a correspondence between a young woman and a serving soldier. He kept the letters – her letters to him – and they were returned to her when he was killed.

"We found the letters in a carrier bag with a lot of invoices that had been donated to us, and these letters were just rolled up in that. They're being transcribed and they are part of the display."

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Mr Eyre is encouraging local people to pay more than one visit to ensure they can take it all in.

"If you're local, you don't have to do it all in one trip," he said. "Come more than once, take a slow walk round, enjoy it, and come back again.

"For visitors, if you want to stay longer, just ask."

He added: "I think we're much better this season. Last year was a bit of a rush to get the thing up and running – we hadn't got leaflets printed, we hadn't got posters out.

"But we're ahead of the game now and we've got all the information out there. The other thing we need to set up now is a website, which we're working on."

The official opening a year ago was tinged with sadness as volunteers and guests remembered Edward Sutherland. It was his long-held ambition to have a motoring heritage centre established in his home village.

Mr Sutherland, who ran a garage business and was a well-known vintage and classic vehicle enthusiast, was one of the society's founding members. He died in 2019, before his dream could be fulfilled, and his wife Jessie passed away the following year.

Mr Eyre said: "This is the recurring message from people – Edward and Jessie would be delighted with this."

Secretary Janet Mowat said: "War is the big subject, going from World War I right through to Northern Ireland – we have a local link with that.

"We've got artwork about the war from local schoolchildren. Hopefully it'll encourage them to take their parents to come and have a look as well.

"We had over 1000 visitors in our first year. The whole of last year was constant."

Mrs Mowat pointed out that the society is already looking to next year and a possible theme of Halkirk and its people

"It's just trying to think ahead and trying to make it different each year," she said. "I think that's the secret – you have to keep evolving."

A car workshop is another new attraction this year, although not all transport exhibits in the centre are four-wheeled – there are motorbikes belonging to John Bremner and a "barn find" bike – a Raleigh ladies' cycle from around 1937 – that was retrieved from an old property in the village's Bridge Street that had served as an antique shop at one time. "Lydia Fensome tidied it up enough that we could display it," Mrs Mowat said.

Committee member Linda Munro filled a whole room in the centre last year with her royal memorabilia to coincide with the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. In this coronation year there is a smaller display of items relating to King Charles.

She said: "The work that Chris and his wife Lorraine have put into this place is absolutely fantastic."

One of the guests on Friday, Shona Polson, was particularly impressed with the John Brotherston collection.

"Some of the cars are amazing as well," she said. "We took our grandchildren here last year, aged three and six, and they loved it.

"They got to sit in the cars and the ladies were so good to them. They just thought this was great.

"It's well worth a visit."

Opening times are 2-4pm on Tuesday and Sunday from April to October, and also on Saturday from June to September. Group visits are welcome.

Admission is free, with donations welcome.

Members of the public can check Facebook and the centre's noticeboard for information. The society can also be contacted by email at halkirkheritage@btinternet.com or by phone on 01847 839101.

Halkirk Heritage and Vintage Motor Society's annual general meeting is on April 27.

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