A STALWART who’s been in command of a Carlisle museum for over a quarter of a century has announced his retirement.

Stuart Eastwood, curator of Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life, will step down in February after more than 27 years.

Since he started, in 1992, he’s overseen a huge expansion of the museum’s collection - which meant it had to move from Queen Mary’s Tower to the larger Alma block, in Carlisle Castle in 2014.

The museum covers 300 years of the county’s military history including The King’s Own Royal Border Regiment and the current serving regiment, The Duke of Lancaster’s.

Stuart, who is married to Peg and is a dad-of-two grown up children, said: “Although I am sad to leave the museum, it is in safe hands.

“There is a great staff team who will take the museum on to the next stage of its journey.

“It has been a fantastic opportunity to work with both the collections and veterans.

“I have been lucky to meet with both First World War and Second World War veterans highlighting that the museum is first and foremost about people.”

Colonel Andrew Dennis, chairman of the museum’s trustees said: “We are immensely grateful to Stuart for his selfless dedication.

“We are also grateful for Stuart’s vision and dogged determination to ensure the museum’s future by moving it within Carlisle Castle.

“The museum move would not have happened without Stuart’s drive, determination, sheer hard work and dedication.

“Stuart will be fondly remembered as a true people person, he always had time for visitors and veterans and was generous with his support and knowledge.”

Stuart has written several books including When Dragons Flew, in 1994, which told the story of the 1st Battalion of The Border Regiment during the Second World War battle of Arnhem, in the Netherlands.

Jules Wooding, who’s worked at Carlisle’s Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery, will take over Stuart’s role.

Stuart plans to spend more time walking in the Lake District. Starting as an archaeologist he changed career, joining Doncaster Museum in 1979.