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Family requests return of uniform from Flambards

Anna Scutt A photograph of a traditional 1940s English wedding Anna Scutt
The bride Monica Scutt's wartime nurse uniform is part of Flambards' exhibitions

A family who donated a wartime nurse's outfit to be displayed at a theme park have said they want it back after the attraction closed permanently.

Anna Scutt's grandmother Monica wore the uniform when she was working in a convalescent hospital where she met her future husband who was injured while serving in World War Two.

The VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) uniform was displayed in the "Britain in the Blitz" historical display at Flambards in Helston, Cornwall, which closed in early November.

Flambards said it wanted to return family heirlooms but was concerned about "opening the floodgates" for claims.

Anna Scutt Wartime photo of nurse Monica StuttAnna Scutt
Monica Scutt treated her future husband while he recovered from a wartime injury

Ms Scutt said her grandparents met after her grandfather was injured.

"His Jeep had got too close to a mortar. It was blown up and he was injured really badly," she said.

"There were 29 holes in him. They didn't think he would survive."

She added: "He was sent to recover at a hospital in Berwick-upon-Tweed and Grandpa just said he saw this beautiful nurse and said 'that's the girl for me'."

Anna Scutt Wartime soldier Gerald ScuttAnna Scutt
Gerald Scutt, before he was sent to France in 1940

The couple were married until Monica Scutt died 20 years ago after which the family donated the uniform to Flambards.

"Grandpa never talked about his wartime experience apart from to say I came back, meaning so many of his comrades didn't," Ms Scutt said.

She said her family would like the uniform back as "it means so much to the whole family because none of us would be here without that uniform".

A scene depicting a Victorian kitchen, with a woman using a mixing bowl on a wooden table, another woman standing beside a counter, and a child also in the kitchen
Flambards had a number of historical scenes depicted in its Victorian Village and Britain in the Blitz areas

CEO of Flambards Ian Cunningham made the decision to close the attraction for good because it was losing money.

"We have answered every claim we've had - which is quite a few to be honest," he said.

"Most of the collection was purchased from the previous owners."

Anna with a photo album which features her grandparents
Anna Scutt said the uniform is an important part of her family's story

He added: "There are one or two items that have come to us either on loan or as donations and some of these go back many, many years... but I don't want to open the floodgates.

"Many people believe they have a legitimate claim.

"Our problem is that we have no evidence of this.

"I've had one claim for a piece of wrecked aircraft. I'm afraid the place is full of them."

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