Muckleburgh collection receives models from ex-tank driver

Brian Cooper, an ex-tank driver and now ex-model maker, from Bowthorpe has donated his models to the Muckleburgh collection in Weybourne as he gives up his 40-year-long hobby. 

Mr Cooper and his models (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest) Mr Cooper, 66, served in the Royal Tank Regiment from 1977-1980 operating several vehicles throughout his career. 

He trained in a Chieftain Mark 10 before serving in several countries including Germany and Ireland.

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Mr Cooper with his Chieftain model and the real version (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest)Mr Cooper said: "I've travelled the world and cleaned it, as we used to say as soldiers, because it always seemed like we were cleaning everything all the time.

"I joined up through Norwich Army Careers; My father was a tank driver too. 

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Mr cooper has driven several types of armoured vehicles over his career (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest) "I got into it model making in my mid-to late-twenties, just after me and my wife got married. 

"I just really liked the idea of doing models. 

"If you can't have the real thing you might as well have a replica. 

"Someone told me if you want to get into it, you should join a model club, so I joined the Norfolk Scale Model group. 

"Its a bit of a strange hobby really. 

"It has been really enjoyable but it's time to move on. I am stopping now. 

"I don't have the room or the time for it now, as me and my wife are downsizing and I am looking after my mother too.

"I may return to it someday, but not in the near future.

"I was on a delivery whilst at work and was near to the museum, so I came in and asked if they would take them and they said yes. 

"I have also donated a lot of my equipment to Models for Heroes a charity which supports model making hobbies within former and current Armed Forces and Emergency Service Personnel in the United Kingdom."

Sir Michael Savory, owner of the museum, said: "I have been collecting tanks and guns for 40 years. 

"I get a lot of model donations.

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Sir Michael Savory, owner of the Muckleburgh collection (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest) "Models are often of interest to children who come to the museum because they are small and easy to see and understand, they will often sit down on the carpet and look at them.

"With the models, I check the quality of them and if they are better than the ones I have on display I swap them over."

The collection houses a variety of tanks and armoured vehicles (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest)