A SPECIAL exhibition to celebrate the 80th birthdays of local collectors Sid Woodhams and John Stone will take place next month.

John and Sid turn 80 on March 18 and 19, respectively, and the Woodhams-Stone Collection is planning to celebrate by holding on a special exhibition at the former Conservative Club in Malton.

The exhibition will showcase the depth and breadth of their collections, which focus on Malton and Norton. It will include objects that have not been on public display before and some old favourites.

Sid and John have spent the majority of their 80 years collecting and preserving items related to the history of the towns. In 2011 they donated these collections to the people of Malton and Norton to become a history resource.

The trustees of the collection aim to raise money to celebrate Sid and John’s 80th birthdays and their fascinating and the local history items that they have saved for everyone to enjoy.

Di Keal, chairman of the Woodhams-Stone Collection, said: “As Sid and John were both born in 1937, we had thought that £1,937 would be a fantastic target to reach. All the money will be spent on exhibiting the objects and any left over will be used for the continuing care of the collection and future events.”

The exhibition will be held from March 18 to 26. To make a donation, go to charitychoice.co.uk/woodhamsstonecollection/appeals/a-lifetime-of-collecting