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Boat museum celebrates birthday

7th Sep 2006

The celebrations continue at The Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port with a 30th birthday bonanza on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 September to be opened by one of Britain’s most distinguished actors.

David Suchet, the popular Poirot star, waterways enthusiast and Vice-President of The Waterways Trust, will be guest of honour at the birthday extravaganza, which coincides with the completion of a £2 million refurbishment of the museum.

David is the third VIP to come to the museum in recent weeks. The Poirot star follows visits from TV wildlife celebrity, Kate Humble and the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott.

Roger Hanbury, Chief Executive of The Waterways Trust which operates the museum, said: "David Suchet has been a staunch supporter of the Trust and our museums for a number of years and we are absolutely delighted that he is our guest of honour at this very special event.

"Over the past two years the museum has undergone a transformation and the birthday event is a great opportunity to celebrate all that has been achieved by everyone involved with the project."

Historic canal boats will be joined by jugglers, stilt walkers, Morris dancers and a brass band to make it a party to remember. And a spectacular event planned for 12 noon on the Saturday will make sure the celebrations go with a bang!

With the largest collection of canal boats in the world, a working lock and canal workers cottages, the Boat Museum provides a glimpse to what life was like during the hey day of our waterways.

The refurbishment of the Museum was made possible due to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, North West Regional Development Agency, the European Regional Development Fund, Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council and Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd (WREN).

The Boat Museum is one of three waterways museums operated by The Waterways Trust. The other two are the National Waterways Museum in Gloucester and the Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne, Northants.

Last updated: 22/10/2008