This autumn, The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven will open a new exhibition telling the powerful and personal stories of local people in World War II.
Running from 20 September 2025 through to 1 February 2026, Service, Solidarity and Sacrifice offers a moving story-led journey into the lives of local people during one of history’s most challenging periods.
Visitors will encounter compelling local stories, including a Royal Air Force bomber pilot, a daring Special Operations Executive agent, a Commando, and a member of the French Resistance. First-hand testimonies will share the experiences of the Danish Fishing Fleet, the Women’s Land Army, and an RAF gunner, while historic objects representing active service personnel will be displayed alongside striking images from the various fronts of the war.
The museum is owned and managed by Cumberland Council. Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said:
“This exhibition is a valuable opportunity to share Cumberland’s wartime stories with a new generation. It reflects the resilience and commitment of our community during a defining period in history, and I’m pleased to see these memories preserved and presented at The Beacon.”
Edwin Rutherford, Curator at The Beacon added:
“Service, Solidarity and Sacrifice is a story-led exhibition that reveals how local people experienced World War II. The display marks the 80th anniversary year of VE Day and VJ Day. Inspirational stories of heroism and bravery demonstrate that during World War II, ordinary people did extraordinary things.”
The exhibition explores themes including the experiences of evacuees, the role of the Home Guard, the presence of enemy aliens, the impact of wartime industry, and the efforts of community fundraising campaigns. Period music, featuring iconic voices such as Vera Lynn and Glenn Miller, will help immerse visitors in the atmosphere of the 1940s. For younger audiences, there will be interactive opportunities to handle objects from the era, offering an engaging way to connect with the history on display.
Service, Solidarity and Sacrifice has been developed in collaboration with Museum Development North, Cumbria Archives, Whitehaven Library, Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life, and the BBC Sound Archive, with many local residents contributing stories, photographs, and treasured artefacts.
The exhibition has been made possible with the generous support of Museum Development North through the V80 Grant, funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Arts Council England. This funding has enabled The Beacon Museum to share the exhibition with the community, ensuring that the stories, objects, and experiences of the Second World War can be preserved and presented for future generations.
The opening day on Saturday 20 September 2025 will feature a live performance from local singer Cindy Horton, with plans to involve the local cadets in the occasion.
Heather Holmes, Customer and Visitor Experience Manager added:
“Service, Solidarity and Sacrifice shines a light on the quiet heroism of those whose ordinary lives became extraordinary through the choices they made and the challenges they endured.”