An archive of items belonging to SAS founder Blair 'Paddy' Mayne at War Years Remembered in Newtownards cannot open to the public due to lack of museum accreditation. The not-for-profit charity holds Mayne's SAS uniform, medals including the Distinguished Service Order and Legion d'Honneur, wartime trunk, and a journal from a post-war Antarctic expedition. It also includes items from other Mayne family members who served, plus materials on his rugby career and 1938 British Lions tour.

Curator David McCallion described challenges in securing funding for renovations to the warehouse housing the collection. He noted volunteers face difficulties maintaining the items without support. The Department for Communities states only accredited museums qualify for its grants. Northern Ireland Museums Council staff met War Years Remembered representatives on 29 August 2025 and offered guidance on accreditation, covering organizational health, collections care, and user experience, but received no follow-up.

Mayne attended Regent House School in Newtownards and studied law at Queen's University Belfast. He volunteered at the start of World War Two, helped found the SAS, led its first major raid on a Libyan airfield in November 1941, commanded the unit from January 1943, and participated in operations in Sicily, Normandy, and Germany.

North Down MP Alex Easton contacted Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn to request a visit to the site and explore government assistance. Ards and North Down Borough Council previously granted £50,000 to the charity. Northern Ireland Museums Council director Heather McGuicken confirmed funding limits to accredited museums only.