This year’s Open Doors Weekend features both the new Royal Observer Corps Museum in Largs and the Skelmorlie Underground Monitoring Post.

It’s your chance to take a look at the museum, which is the amazing educational creation of local Largs resident Frank Alexander, prior to its official opening.

The museum is a multi-sensory experience which details the dedicated work of the Royal Observer Corps from their creation in 1925 until the force was stood down in 1995.

The WW2 and Cold War rooms are full of incredible artefacts and memorabilia collected by Frank over the years. Bringing history to life, the interactive equipment together with the original four minute warning film of the Cold War will stir many memories for those who lived through air raids and the threat of nuclear war.

Mobile phone and computer savvy generations can step back in time to an era, not that long ago, when communication and survival depended on mechanical instruments, corded telephones and hand written charts.

There are displays of local interest too, from the Catalina plane which sank off the island shores to a mock-up of the Skelmorlie Underground Monitoring Post.

A very proud Frank Alexander said: “I am grateful for the help and support from the Explore Largs BID towards the project. We received a business grant to upgrade our audio visual facilities and add blackout blinds to improve our visitor experience offering.” He continued: “We will also be working with Explore Largs on material for their website and various PR opportunities in the very near future. The team has been very helpful and encouraging!” “I am now taking ‘Open Doors Weekend’ bookings from people who would like to experience both the Skelmorlie Underground Monitoring Station on Saturday 5 September and the new Observer Corps Museum in Largs on Sunday 6 September.” If you would like to visit this new museum prior to its official opening please call Frank on 07513 504 115. The tours are expected to last approximately an hour and can accommodate up to 15 people per time.