Party on the Pier!

Calling everyone who loves piers and Prince of Wales Pier. Three Cornish piers will be taking part in a major celebration of piers in the British Isles, to launch British Tourism Week 2011. 34 piers across the UK will be taking part in the first ever Party on the Pier on Saturday 12th March. Looe, Newlyn and Falmouth will be hosting parties of their own, celebrating the heritage of the pier in unique and fitting ways. In Looe, banjo players will be strumming and entertaining locals and visitors alike on the celebrated Banjo Pier, Newlyn’s Old Harbour will be filled with boats, artists, heritage and activities and Falmouth is set to have a day to creatively capture what the Prince of Wales Pier means to residents.

So we need you! Make time in your diaries between 1-2pm on Saturday 12th March to come along to the Prince of Wales Pier for the biggest photoshoot ever in Falmouth and to launch the Friends of the Pier!

From Falmouth to North Devon and the North Pole…

A blog post from Tamsin Loveless, Head of Communications, National Maritime Museum Cornwall

It all started with a phone call from the desks of the Maritime Museum, that turned into an email, which evolved into a ‘wish’ list which delivered a trip to North Devon to meet the first man to reach the North Pole unassisted.

And, this has now resulted in some amazing new objects telling the story of the first solo expedition, unassisted, to the North Pole, being added to National Maritime Museum Cornwall’s On Thin Ice exhibition which opens on 8 April.

Pen Hadow rose to international fame in 2003 when, after fifteen years of unrelenting effort, he finally achieved his goal to become the first person to trek solo, without resupply, from Canada to the North Geographic Pole – a feat thought comparable to making the first ascent of Everest, solo and without oxygen, and one which has not been repeated since. Within months, he went on to become the only Briton to have trekked, without resupply, to both the North and South Poles.

Hardened Arctic and Antarctic Explorer he certainly is but you can also add generous, trusting and inspiring to a long list of personality traits as Pen opened up his Polar world to the Museum.

Ben Lumby, the Museum’s Exhibition Manager, and Pen went through what I can only describe as time capsules of Polar heritage. Basically big blue bins labelled ‘North Pole’ containing every item that Pen has taken on his incredible pioneering adventure.

Everything from pants to Polar Bear warning systems, cooking gear to clothing and sub-zero equipment to sledges was laid before us and will soon be on display in the Museum’s new On Thin Ice: Pioneers of Polar Exploration exhibition opening on 8 April, showing you what it takes to reach the North Pole.

So, this was our Friday. Journeying to the North Pole with an iconic polar explorer – just without the polar weather systems, although North Devon was a bit parky that day.

Cruise ship calls 2011

29 cruise ships entering Falmouth waters in 2011 which is great news. For those interested, please follow the link and download the schedule...

Cruise Ships schedule 2011

Red Arrows are back!

Just a quick stop press post this, to confirm that the Red Arrows will be back in Falmouth as part of Henri Lloyd Fal Week (6-14Aug 2011). Their spectacular show will be on Wednesday 10th August at 6.15pm. Full details on Fal Week will be posted on the official Facebook page for Falmouth events.

FISH BLOG: Annie Sibert's Fish Pie Recipe

We've asked people from the Falmouth community to contribute to the blog to keep you up to speed with what's happening in the town.

We caught up with Annie Sibbert, from My Fish Kitchen in Falmouth, to get a quick and easy recipe for fish pie, and to find out what the local fishermen are bringing into the harbour right now.

Next week Annie will be giving us a great recipe for Hake.

 

My Fish Kitchen 

Greenbank Falmouth River Festival takes shape

Preview some of the events as the calendar starts to take shape for the 2011 Green Fal River Festival. 27th May -5th June 2011:

May 27th 2011

Come and join in the launch ceremony for the Greenbank Fal River Festival!

5th Classic Sailing Pilot Cutter Review

May 23rd 2011 - May 29th 2011

Join the fun on the water at the 5th Classic Sailing Pilot Cutter Review. Price includes all food and accommodation on board.

Sunday 29th May - Day 3

2011 RNLI Castle to Castle Swim

The RNLI is delighted to host this one mile open water annual Swim as part of the Fal River Festival.
BF Adventure’s charity abseil from the Maritime Museum

After last year's success charity BF Adventure will be running another charity abseil from the top of the Maritime Museum in Falmouth.
Monday 30th: Day 4

 

Time Travellers Go... Seafaring

May 30th 2011 - Jun 4th 2011

Set sail on a nautical adventure as you learn the ropes of seafaring, 1800s style.
Tuesday 31st: Day 5

Cornish Wildlife Voyage

May 31st 2011 - Jun 3rd 2011

Sail and wildlife spot on Eve a beautiful wooden pilot cutter, it’s a good time of year for basking sharks and dolphins
Wednesday 1st June: Day 6

Cornish Wildlife Voyage

May 31st 2011 - Jun 3rd 2011

Sail and wildlife spot on Eve a beautiful wooden pilot cutter, it’s a good time of year for basking sharks and dolphins

New Exhibition at the Maritime Museum

National Maritime Museum Cornwall is venturing further than it has ever done before, into the freezing extremes of the Arctic and Antarctic, with a brand new exhibition opening on 8 April called On Thin Ice: Pioneers of Polar Exploration.

A thirst for knowledge has driven individuals to endure the world’s extremes. This new exhibition, developed in association with the Polar Museum in Cambridge, honours some of the greatest icons in the history of polar exploration, including Scott and Shackleton. 

The new six month exhibition focuses on the historic and modern-day achievements of polar pioneers, using photography, artefacts, equipment and personal ephemera.

Ben Lumby, Exhibitions Manager at National Maritime Museum Cornwall says: “We are working with the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI), the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and a number of famed polar explorers to deliver an exhibition that brings home these remarkable achievements.”



Shackleton C: SPRI, University of Cambridge.



So, when you step into National Maritime Museum Cornwall from the 8 April, you will be able to journey to the North and South Pole, explore Base Camp, the interactive play zone, and be absorbed by the epic achievements of our polar heritage.

On Thin Ice: Pioneers of Polar Exploration opens on 8 April and runs through to 9 October 2011. If you would like to share your Cornish polar connections with the Museum, please contact the research team on enquiries@nmmc.co.uk.

Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival

The Falmouth Sea Shanty Fesival 2011 is looking at becoming the best ever. A brilliant lineup is planned and you'll be the first to see it if you follow the Falmouth Spirit of the Sea Facebook page. It'll be up on there very soon.

The poster has just been published and you can view it here...

Falmouth Spring Festival Photoshoot

The photocall took place yesterday February 3rd 2011 to celebrate the first Falmouth Spring Festival. The 10 day event which will celebrate Falmouth's green and open spaces through art, music, education and fashion, will kick off on 26th March and run until 3rd April.

So what's planned?

Well, the festival starts with the Falmouth Flower Show, a 2 dayer up at Princess Pavilion on the 26th and 27th March, there'll be Gardener's Question Time at the Maritime Museum on March 28th at 7pm, the Spring Fashion Show also at the Museum on the 1st April and a Spring Fair on events square on the final weekend of the 2nd and 3rd April for starters.


Also throw into the mix a variety of walks and tours with walkitcornwall, Trebah and Glendurgan Gardens and you'll realise there's quite a bit happening for this, the first year! The Falmouth Spring Festival Facebook page is the place to go for up to the minute news so follow the link given to that. You'll also find a selection of images from yesterday's shoot on there.