Weston Museum Celebrates 50 Years - And You're Invited
24th June 2025
Weston Museum Celebrates 50 Years on Burlington Street — And You’re Invited!
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Beer cost 20p a pint and nobody had a mobile phone
Fifty years ago, Jaws first hit our cinema screens, a pint of beer cost around 20 pence, and mobile phones hadn’t yet appeared on the market. Weston-super-Mare’s own John Cleese starred in the debut season of Fawlty Towers on one of only three UK television channels — back when the BBC would close down at midnight with the National Anthem.
It was 1975 — the year Margaret Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party — and also the year Weston Museum first opened its doors at its now much-loved location on Burlington Street.
Join the museum party
Fast forward to 2025, and the museum is preparing to mark its golden anniversary in style. On Saturday 28th June, from 10am to 4pm, everyone is invited to a free, fun-filled 1970s-themed birthday party to celebrate 50 fantastic years of sharing Weston’s history.
Visitors can step back in time with:
• A retro 1970s sweet stall
• Dance performances
• 70s-inspired food and drink at Clara’s Café
• Face painting for all ages
• Staff and volunteers in fabulous fancy dress
• Meet 1970s enthusiast and collector Infinity Alexander who will be there with his retro camper
• The Mayor will open the party at 10am.
• A special 1970s exhibition in the Learning Space
The Shermans to join the museum party
And as if that wasn’t enough, Weston’s newest celebrity couple — Sue and Trevor Sherman — will be among the special guests. The Shermans hit national headlines earlier this year after it emerged that they’ve spent every anniversary of their 1970 Weston wedding back here in the town where their love story began.
“Weston has always been my happy place, ever since I was born here back in 1951." said Sue. I learned to swim here. And ride — first on donkeys and then on horses trotting along the beach. I watched hovercrafts being put through their paces on the sands, and spent hours looking for crabs at Anchor Head. A treat was an afternoon at Marine Lake with a cheese sandwich for lunch and some warm orange juice to wash it down. Chuck in an ice cream with a chocolate flake and we were in heaven!
“In 1970 Trevor and I got married. I was 18 and we married on his 20th birthday. Everyone said we were too young and wouldn’t last five minutes… but if you know, you know — and 55 years later we’re still very much together! Guess where we went for our honeymoon in March 1970? Weston of course! In fact, we’ve been coming back in March every year since to count our blessings. Weston is a wonderful place full of lovely people. Thank you so much for taking care of us — and here’s to the next 50 years!”
So whether you’re a local or a visitor like the Shermans, join in the fun and help Weston Museum celebrate half a century of history, community spirit, and seaside charm.
And if you haven't been to the museum before you're in for a treat. See Banksy's pinwheel, step back in time at Clara's Cafe - a full Victorian cottage - try on a swimming hat like the one worn by Paolo Radmilovic, Weston's four-times Olympic gold medallist and watch fascinating historical newsreels of Weston-super-Mare.
