Ship shape for the summer season

It’s a tall order to spruce up The Tall Ship for the summer season but 16 people from Hewlett Packard’s Glasgow office in Brown Street have volunteered to dust the deckhouse and paint the portholes of the floating museum which is moored on the River Clyde outside the Riverside building.

Volunteer Coordinator at the historic vessel, Marlene Anderson, said: ‘We are very grateful for their enthusiasm, participation and commitment in giving something back to a Glasgow based charity.  We look forward to a busy summer… in pristine surroundings!’

Since re-opening at the new location a year ago, The Tall Ship has welcomed 70,000 visitors aboard. This figure was not expected to be reached until June this year.

Claire Rowlands, Visitor Attraction Manager for The Tall Ship said: ‘We are absolutely delighted to have received so many visitors in that time.  The public’s reaction to the ship in her new home has been extremely encouraging and we are now looking forward to welcoming the next 70,000 visitors!’

Run by the Clyde Maritime Trust, The Tall Ship is a three masted barque named SV Glenlee, which attracted half a million people in the 12 years it was at its previous moorings at Yorkhill quay. The ship traded between Glasgow and Australia from 1896 and is an independent museum committed to preserving and interpreting the Glenlee, its story and the maritime history of the area for the benefit of local people and visitors alike.  It is open to the public

and can be hired for events. For more information see the website: www.thetallship.com

 

Princess Royal opens Riverside Museum

The Princess Royal delighted more than 150 special guests at Glasgow’s new £74 million Riverside Museum when she formally opened it today. (Friday 11 November 2011)
Pupils of St Constantine’s Primary School in Govan who are on the Junior Board at the Museum and who had designed one of the interactive games which are proving so popular, had a ringside view as the Royal party left. Said Luis McCann who with Claire Wasige, is current champion at their game: ‘The best thing about today was the Princess.’
That was echoed by Councillor George Redmond, Chair of Glasgow Life, who escorted the Royal visitor through many of the exhibits: ‘In four and a half months we’ve had 945,000 visitors here, which is quite remarkable. Everyone who had played a part in this has looked forward to this day.’
Lord Provost Bob Winter as Lord Lieutenant who stands in for the Queen on occasions in Glasgow added his thanks to everyone ‘behind the scenes,’ in particular. ‘The design, building and operation of the Riverside Museum is wonderful. The project was delivered on time and within budget. The sheer dedication of the entire team is remarkable and everyone should be rightly proud of the treasure trove we possess.’
The Princess Royal, too, was clearly enthusiastic about the Museum. After unveiling a plaque to commemorate her visit, she said:’It has been a pleasure to see this place that has had rave reviews. The praise is entirely appropriate.’
On congratulating everyone concerned she added: ‘Long may the visitors continue.’

The Princess Royal also went aboard the Tall Ship Glenlee, one of only five Clyde built sailing ships of that kind afloat in the world.  Moored in front of the Museum, it has recently undergone a £1.5m refurbishment.  Said Dr Christopher Mason, who heads the Trust which runs the Tall Ship:  ’It is always good to get royal recognition for staff and volunteers – it is a great boost to everyone’s morale.  The Princess took great interest in our work and we hope she will come again.’