ABP SILLOTH DOCKS
150th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
8th & 9th AUGUST 2009

(This was an excellent event - the sun shone most of the time. The organisers had hoped for 2,000 visitors each day - the aggregate total was well over 10,000. To me it was an example of a low key, community event, which proved that 'small is beautiful'. TJH 16/08/2009)

Carlisle 'News & Star' Press Report 10th August, 2009

In August 2009, the Port of Silloth celebrates its 150th birthday, the first dock, known as the "Marshall Dock", being officially opened on 3rd August 1859. To celebrate this momentous occasion, two separate events have been planned.

The first is an exhibition, to be held at the Solway Coast Discovery Centre / Tourist Information Centre in Silloth, which will run for two weeks commencing Monday 3rd August and will be open for viewing every day 10am to 4pm (closed for lunch 1pm-2pm on Fri/Sat/Sun). The exhibition will consist of archive photographs and information of the port history, historic charts, drawings, maps, as well as additional related contributions from port customers, local environmental organisations, Silloth Lifeboat Station, members of the public and Cumbria Records Office.

On Silloth Green, outside the Golf Hotel at 12 noon on Monday 3rd August 2009, to mark the actual 150th anniversary date, Mr Steve Broomhead, Chief Executive of the North West Development Agency will unveil in front of local dignitaries and the general public, a specially commissioned wooden plaque, designed and created by the Silloth Woodcarver's Group. This beautiful hand-carved feature will stand proudly alongside the raised flowerbed located at the corner of Criffel Street and Lawn Terrace.

The second event consists of two days of attractions down at Silloth Docks. On Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August, the port will be open to the public from 10am to 5pm. On view within the inner New Dock, will be a number of interesting vessels, including "Jacinta", a heritage deep-sea trawler and veteran of the Icelandic Cod Wars, the "Brocklebank", a heritage tug from the port of Liverpool, the fishery protection vessel "Solway Protector" and tugs from the ports of Workington and Barrow, a NW Area Police Launch, the topsail schooner "Vilma", and a specially adapted sailing yacht for the disabled. It is hoped that we shall also have with us, We shall also have with us, the modern Border Agencies (ex HM Customs) patrol cutter "Sentinel", an RNLI offshore lifeboat which the public may board to view and a vessel from Robin Rigg wind-farm (this did not attend), but the attendance of these vessels will be subject to last-minute operational requirements. Also on display and maneuvering in the New Dock will be a number of craft from the Carlisle Model Boat Club. Various trade stalls, food outlets, a children's funfair, a First Aid Post, toilets and a public information tent will be located around the inner New Dock. (Stallholders should include Tim Hudson [Convoy Models] and Bernard McCall ['Coastal Shipping Publications']). When the dock gates are opened at high water, (around 2pm), there will be a parade of local lifeboats and rescue boats. The public are advised to watch out for swarthy pirates, strolling musicians and dancers around the port during both days!

Other events over that weekend will include, on the Saturday between 1pm and 2pm, a Sea King helicopter from the Royal Naval Air Station at Prestwick, to carry out a display including a winching drill with lifeboats in the outer Marshall Dock (although the helicopter arrived it was called away before the display), whilst on Sunday we are hoping to attract a Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer in Northumberland to do a similar display. On both days there will be a flyby by the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Lancaster bomber/Spitfire/Hurricane). The timing of these airborne events is to be confirmed (Hopefully between 3pm and 4pm.) (This did not happen on the Sunday, due to bad weather in the Blackpool area. Fortunately it was possible to arrange a 'fly-over' by the preserved Avro Vulcan B2 bomber).

To coincided with this special event for the Port of Silloth, the Harbour Master, Captain Chris Puxley, has written a prolifically illustrated book entitled "The Port of Silloth 1859 - 2009. A Pictorial History Through 150 Years of a Solway Port". This informative memento, limited to 1000 copies, has been published by the well known maritime author and publisher Bernard McCall and will be on sale in August 2009, available either at the anniversary weekend event, from selected bookshops throughout the UK, or directly from the publisher.

There is no charge for entry to this special weekend event, but the public are asked to be generous to bona-fide charity collection boxes. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC PARKING ON THE PORT ESTATE, except for vehicles displaying disabled or special exhibitor badges. A special free shuttle-bus will operate along the seafront, at frequent intervals, between the Solway Holiday Village and the docks, calling at regular bus stops en-route.

SILLOTH LOCAL WEBSITE : Associated British Ports - Silloth

EVENT PROGRAMME

Location Maps of Silloth: (1) & (2) (Maps courtesy 'Streetmap')

(c) ABP Silloth & T Hudson 21st July, 2009 and any later amendments