On show are around 10 thousand artefacts, including the 20th Century Exhibition, commemorating the last 100 years.

Responding to an open invitation to the public for suggestions and loans of memorabilia, I offered to supply material explaing the history of the of the commemorative red Flanders poppy following the great war, with its value in providing employment for some of the wounded and in fund-raising for ex-servicement. And alongside this, the white poppy devised by the Women's Co-operative Guild in 1933 as an alternative symbol "As a definite pledge to peace that war must not happen again."

The curators accepted my offer of a red and white poppies display, accompanied by information about the Lady Haig poppy factory in Edinburgh, material from the Royal British Legion and from the Peace Pledge Union. A recording of the reason for my choice of the poppies theme was also included, the text of which follows:

The 20th century has been the century of amazing advancements in scientific knowledge and technical advancement, from the wonders revealed from the electron microscope to those of space being explored by the Hubble telescope and by space probes.
    Advances in mass communication now enable ordinary mortals to witness these stupendous wonders and to have access to almost limitless knowledge.
    In juxtaposition to this stands the poppy - a simple flower - as a poignant reminder of the continuing abysmal folly and ignorance of humankind in its conduct of affairs - still failing to eradicate the scourge of war, failing miserably to cope with our neighbours on our little Earth: this despite the consequences of war being depicted graphically in our homes - dead and wounded, homes destroyed, families broken and made destitute, refugees, and threats to the eco-systems of the environment. These same media also give us the opportunity to share our thinking, aspirations and compassion; and a chance to see the spiritual and psychological damage that war brings - hatred, bitterness, grief, hopelessness and the debasing of humanity.
    The poppy was conceived as a symbol to remind us of the unspeakable shame of the Great War 1914-1918; to honour the memory of those who were slaughtered in it: and by vowing "Never Again" to keep faith with the victims of such barbarism.
    Over the ensuing years the poppy's message became corrupted by those who persist in military attitudes - and the rememberance ceremony became a tribute to "Our Glorious Dead". To counter this perversion and betrayal of the dead, the white poppy was conceived to restore the vision and the vow "Never Again!".