|
This news page is current for January and February 2010 By way of introduction... This piece is being written as the New Year snow that has engulfed us is receding and the frozen water of the graving dock has now released HMS Trincomalee! It's all been very picturesque as Chris Armstrong's super photograph shows, but our thoughts now are turning increasingly to the season ahead and the prospect of the Tall Ships Races 2010 in August, together with the huge opportunities that this event will bring to Hartlepool and the region. Reflecting on a Decade To reflect just for a moment, however, and think back over this first decade of the 21st Century, at the start of the new Millennium we were still doing some serious and heavy restoration work on the lower hull prior to re-floating the Ship and putting in the initial interpretation. The restoration project officially finished on 30 April 2001; a process that had taken the best part of ten years, subsumed three-quarters of a million hours of skilled employment and contributed around eight million pounds into the local economy by way of purchases and wages. It should not go unrecorded that the Trust raised in excess of ten million pounds for the project! Since that time, of course, we have continued to make important additions within the Ship, particularly to aid the public's enjoyment and understanding and this has been supplemented by the new permanent exhibition opened last year. In addition, the standing rigging has been changed from manila hemp to the more-easily maintained polypropylene cordage. Along the way the Trust has picked up a host of awards, the latest being the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2009 in the North East in conjunction with our Council colleagues at Hartlepool's Maritime Experience [HME]. Another important element of late has been the development of the Ship's archive through the collection and sorting of records, and with a plan now in conjunction with the University of Teesside to catalogue and digitise much of this material and make it more accessible over time through a dedicated website. We need to win the funds first, but this project is another exciting element within our custodian role at this time. It is right to acknowledge that without the dedicated help and support from many individuals and organisations, let alone our own Trustees, staff and the Friends of HMS Trincomalee, these developments could not have happened, but as a result one of the great joys is talking to people who have not visited the Ship for years and their reaction to seeing her as she is today - magic moments! In concluding this reflective section, the continuing challenges of keeping ahead of the game, particularly in these uncertain times, means that we do both need and appreciate everyone's support in spreading the word to raise awareness about the Ship and continue to increase our visitor numbers and income. There has never been a better time to introduce a Friend! The 2010 Season ahead Preparations continue apace for the visit by the Tall Ships Races 2010 that will be hosted in Hartlepool between 7 and 10 August. Hartlepool Borough Council is at the heart of the arrangements but with the support of many organisations, including the Trust. It is a massive event to organise with probably many dozens of ships and hundreds of thousands of visitors anticipated over the duration. To get a flavour of what will be on offer, including an exciting Georgian event at HME and the Ship, do have a look at the specific website: www.hartlepooltallships2010.com and begin making plans for a visit! Other future dates for the diary worth noting at this time include the weekend of 12/13 June when HME and the Ship host the Cadet Forces Presentation Event for the North East as part of the national celebrations, and the annual Trafalgar Night Dinner in the Ship which will be held on Saturday 23 October and details and tickets should be available from around June. Further developments I have noted earlier that the Trust's Project Appeal 2009 - 2011 is up and running to raise funds towards the on-going conservation of the Ship, education, interpretation and presentation, the archive, marketing and the development of the Friends. There is an attractive brochure setting out what's been achieved to date and our forward plans, and if you would like a copy and/or make a welcome donation towards this work do please give us a call or send an email. I hope to be able to report that we are underway with some of the projects fairly soon, but as always it depends on getting the funds in place. In the meantime, let's hope for some warmer weather and a bit of sunshine to get everyone out and about again! We look forward to welcoming you on board. Images Trafalgar Night 2009
Bryn
Hughes |
||||||||||||||||
