Leisure Archives - Page 7 of 13

City And Shire Tourism Awards – Deadline Approaches

Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Information No Responses »

Jun 052015

With thanks to Eoin Smith, Tricker PR.

The clock is ticking down on a chance for tourism operators across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to shine in a national awards scheme.
The deadline for entries in the Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards (ACSTA) is on June 19, and a final call is being sounded for businesses and individuals to come
forward.

All those who win one of the 14 categories up for grabs in ACSTA will automatically be entered into the Scottish Thistle Awards 2016, in which they will go head to head with other contestants from all over Scotland.

ACSTA chairman Iain Watson says the area has a very high quality tourism sector, and local operators should relish the opportunity to help put a national focus on what Aberdeen and the wider region has to offer.

He adds,

“The fact that we are now a regional final for the Scottish Thistle Awards has really piqued the interest of tourism businesses. We have had a steady flow of entries coming in across all categories, and we expect that number to increase as the deadline approaches.

“Entrants can see there are potentially huge benefits to taking part in ACSTA. If they win their category, they will gain national exposure and the opportunity to demonstrate to the whole country the very high standards to which they operate.

“We know that we have a superb tourism offering here in the north east and this is a fantastic opportunity for us to shout about it. I have no doubt that our local winners will go on to achieve great results in the national scheme.”

The awards categories have been updated to tie-in with the Scottish Thistle Awards. There are categories for accommodation providers, eateries, visitor attractions and events, as well as accolades for individuals who go above and beyond to make sure visitors have a memorable experience.

Hospitality Hero is open to anyone who is working on the front line from tourism guides to bus drivers, while the Ambassador and Young Ambassador awards are for those who show a real passion for the tourism industry.

ACSTA is once again being organised by a sub-committee of Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association. The awards ceremony and dinner will take place on November 27, 2015 at the Ardoe House Hotel and Spa.

Entries for ACSTA are open now at www.acsta.co.uk and will close on June 19, 2015. The full list of awards categories is:

Tourism – Everyone’s Business
Best Informal Eating Experience
Best Event/Festival
Innovation Award
Friendliest Pub/Bar
Best Visitor Attraction
Most Hospitable B&B Guest House
Best Restaurant Experience
Best Holiday Accommodation
Most Hospitable Hotel
Young Ambassador Award
Ambassador
Best Outdoor/Adventure Experience
Hospitality Hero

Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association represents 46 independently operated hotels and conference venues. These hotels provide around 4,000 bedrooms in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The Association is committed to improving the quality and standard of hotel services and to furthering the overall standards of excellence and hospitality within the region.

Made In Scotland – Exhibition At Transport Museum

Aberdeenshire, History No Responses »

Jun 052015

With thanks to Martyn Smith.

The Grampian Transport Museum in Alford is looking for surviving examples from the Scottish Motor Industry to take part in a one off event which is taking place in July.

Vehicles produced, designed or with major components manufactured in Scotland will be eligible to enter Made in Scotland – an event which will bring alive an exhibition of the same name in the museum building.

Made in Scotland tells the fascinating story of the Scottish motor industry.

Having had a great start with the famous 3 A’s (Albion, Argyll and Arrol-Johnston) the industry was once considered the envy of the motoring world, in fact Argyll’s factory in Alexandria was often referred to as ‘Palatial’. Sadly the fortunes of the three manufacturers took a turn for the worse in the depression years between the first and second world wars.

There was a brief revival in the 1960s thanks to the volume production of the Hillman Imp at the Rootes plant at Linwood, Paisley. It is anticipated that the largest number of preserved vehicles at Made in Scotland will be Imps, or their derivatives.

One of these will be a 1973 Davrian Imp racing car, owned by Dave Cooper from Midhurst in West Sussex. Dave plans to drive up for the event and will also be giving a talk to the museum’s Young Engineers club and advising them on how best to restore the museums own 1965 Hillman Imp.

It is also hoped that commercial and specialist vehicles, for which Scotland is well known, will be in attendance in large numbers.

Pride of the museums collection is a Glasgow built 1914 Sentinel Steam Waggon – the oldest fully operational example remaining – which will play a key role in the event, offering museum visitors a rare chance to ride onboard this venerable veteran! The Sentinel will also demonstrate the difference between steam and motor lorries of its era, with the results likely to surprise a few onlookers!

Mike Ward, museum curator, explains the rationale behind the event.

“Grampian Transport Museum pursues a policy of ‘ringing the changes’ with seasonal exhibits, in order to constantly engage with its catchment audience. We often take the opportunity to bring exhibits to life by building an event around the same subject.

“One of the main themes this season only is Made in Scotland which looks at the fascinating story of the Scottish motor industry and this new event echoes the indoor exhibition. It gives us the chance to show these amazing vehicles on our specially developed site.“

There is no vehicle entry fee for Made in Scotland, however entrants will receive complimentary museum admission and 2 vouchers for a special entrants BBQ. Entry forms for Made in Scotland can be downloaded from the museums website – www.gtm.org.uk/whatson

Made in Scotland.
Grampian Transport Museum
Sunday 19th July 2015 from 12noon – 4pm

Ghostly Image Takes Centre Stage At Castle

Aberdeenshire, Featured, History No Responses »

May 292015

Alison Burke stands before ‘Gallowgate Lard’ by Ken Currie

With thanks to Esther Green.

As ancient buildings with intriguing pasts, castles have a reputation for being places where things go bump in the night and that raise unexpected goosebumps.
Visitors to Drum Castle at Drumoak could be forgiven for thinking they are coming face to face with a ghoulish spectre after an art display has brought a ghost-like presence to the historic venue.

The haunting image ‘Gallowgate Lard’ by Ken Currie is one of the significant pieces in the Aberdeenshire castle’s exhibition of key works on loan from Aberdeen Art Gallery, now closed for a £30m refurbishment.

It is one of 20 artworks loaned from the city gallery that form the opening display at the castle’s new exhibition area, which has seen an entire floor redeveloped to create a museum-standard exhibition space showcasing important artworks now and in years to come.

‘Human Presence’ explores how artists capture a human figurative presence where the approach may be aesthetic, witty, playful or sinister and brings mid to late 20th Century paintings and contemporary installation works to the historic setting.

Property manager Alison Burke says that artworks like ‘Gallowgate Lard’ look stunning in the castle environment.

She says:

“Drum is very much the people’s castle, and I don’t like to think of the castle as haunted as I work here in the evenings but there are sometimes some unexplained occurrences.

“Things like ladies’ laughter in the garden when there is no one there, servants’ bells suddenly ringing when there is no one upstairs, the temperature suddenly dropping in the green closet for no reason, but the oddest one was when I came in and found all the tankards had been swapped around on the dining room mantelpiece and categorically no one had been in the Castle from when I had closed it the night before.

“I am not a superstitious person and always look for the reasonable explanation, but that had me completely flummoxed!

“The nicest mysterious happening at Drum though, is when the fairy doors appeared all over the estate, and we think we caught a fairy on camera; a mysterious mist was photographed on our swallow-cam.

“Now that we have opened up the upper floor, we are curious to see if there are mysterious happenings up there as well!”

Drum Castle dates back to the 1300s and was the seat of the Irvines, a clan who supported the Stuarts during the Jacobite uprisings.

It became part of the National Trust for Scotland in 1975 and transforming the second floor manager’s accommodation into the gallery has opened up an area of the castle previously unseen by the public.

Other works on show include ‘Highly Sprung’ by Julia Douglas, a dress made from 12,000 clothes peg springs, and ‘Restraining Coat II (Female)’ by Julie Roberts, a painting which implies a human presence with no body in it.

Located 10 miles west of Aberdeen off the A93, Drum is set in extensive grounds with walks, picnic area, an historic rose garden, adventure play area, tearoom and shop. Normal castle admission charges apply.

More Info:

Drum Castle, Garden and Estate is owned and operated by the National Trust for Scotland and is one of more than 100 properties which the conservation charity promotes and conserves, for the benefit of the nation.

The building is part Jacobean mansion, with a 700 year old medieval tower attached. The castle has long connections with the Irvine family who maintain close links with the property and live nearby. It has a fine collection of art, music and provides a fascinating insight into the life of one of Aberdeenshire’s most historic families, their staff and a way of life which is now almost extinct. Drum also has extensive gardens, including a famous rose garden, woodland and walks.

Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.

Aberdeen Scouts Prepare For American Adventure

Aberdeen City, Featured, News No Responses »

May 152015

With thanks to Mannofield Explorer Scouts.

This weekend over 20 Explorer Scouts took part in an unusual camping challenge at an iconic Aberdeen landmark. The Mannofield Explorer Scouts held a camp at the David Welch Winter Gardens in Duthie Park on Friday night, in preparation for their upcoming trip to Yosemite National Park.

The group will embark on a road trip through California this July, with the end goal to spend a week exploring Yosemite National Park.

The journey will also see the group of 14-18 year olds travel through Death Valley, visit the historic Alcatraz prison in San Francisco, and meet their American counterparts in the Boy Scouts of America.

On their journey, the Explorer Scouts will travel through a variety of terrains – from barren deserts to luscious forests, from sandy beaches to rocky mountains. The group’s overnight stay at the David Welch Winter Gardens allowed them to experience all of these different landscapes in just one night.

Explorer Scout Liam Aiken, 16, says:

“We are all really excited for our trip to Yosemite this summer. We have been fundraising for the last year and a half, and can’t believe it’s almost here!

“The camp in the Winter Gardens was really fun – we have never stayed anywhere like it before – and it was a great preview for the big trip this summer.”

Assistant leader Eoin Smith adds:

“Scouting is all about offering young people new experiences and everyday adventure, helping them develop skills which are applicable across many areas of their lives.

“As a teaser for this summer’s American adventure, we wanted to do something special with the Explorers – and what better way to prepare them for the ever-changing landscapes we’ll face than by visiting them all at once?”

The Mannofield Explorer Scouts’ journey to America follows an exciting few years which have seen them meet Chief Scout Bear Grylls, who wore one of the group’s personalised hoodies on a tour of the UK; attend a talk by Ray Mears with a chance to meet the outdoor hero in person afterwards; and travel the length and breadth of Scotland on a series of adventurous summer camps.

Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee Vice Convener Councillor Jean Morrison says:

“We hold all kinds of events in the Winter Gardens from weddings to school projects but we’ve never had anything happening as unusual as this before.

“We’re glad we could help the Explorer Scouts and we wish them all the best in their trip to Yosemite National Park.”

The Mannofield Explorer Scout Unit, based in Aberdeen, is open to young people aged 14-18 and offers a wide range of activities that are challenging, adventurous and thought-provoking.

Their aim is to enthuse, energise and inspire young people in the community, through a range of fun and educational activities and camps that are designed to build confidence, improve leadership and team-working skills, spread a message of community spirit, and embrace the spirit of everyday adventure.

For more information about the Mannofield Explorer Scouts, visit www.mannofieldexplorers.co.uk; follow them on Twitter and Instagram @MannofieldESU; or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mannofieldexplorers

For more information about joining Scouts, as a youth member or a leader, visit www.scouts.org.uk/join

VisitAberdeen Wins Awards In Scotland And … China

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

May 012015

With thanks to Eoin Smith, Tricker PR.

The organisation which markets Aberdeen as a leisure and business destination – VisitAberdeen – has scooped two major awards for its performance.

VisitAberdeen won a marketing award from the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI) for its Chinese language website, social media presence and attendance at trade fairs both in person and via its partner CBN.

The destination marketing organisation also won the accolade of “The Most Effective Stand For Doing Business” at VisitScotland’s recent Expo.

VisitAberdeen’s Tourism Executive Jenni Fraser was on hand in Bejing to pick up the Chinese Tourist Welcome Award in marketing at the COTRI awards, which coincided with the China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market (COTTM) Fair.

COTRI is the world’s leading independent research institute for information, training, quality assessment, research, and consultancy relating to the Chinese outbound tourism market.

VisitAberdeen’s chief executive Steve Harris (pictured) says,

“We launched a Chinese version of our website earlier this year in a bid to attract a share of the $128 billion China spends every year on overseas leisure and business tourism. We wanted to be ahead of the curve on targeting this highly lucrative market. The Chinese are the biggest overseas spenders in the world, spending on average 50% more than Americans when they are on vacation.

“With a total population of 1.357 billion, only 10m of China’s residents can speak English. With forecasts suggesting 500 million Chinese people will travel overseas in the next 15 years, we believe that it is critical to promote the city as a leisure and business destination to the Chinese in their native language. Receiving this award when we’ve only been working on this project for such a relatively short space of time is especially pleasing.”

The award for “The Most Effective Stand For Doing Business” was presented to VisitAberdeen at the recent VisitScotland Expo held in Aberdeen.

Expo provides a platform for companies and organisations with a Scottish tourism product to showcase products and services to potential global buyers from all sectors.

The Visit Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Pavilion which was created in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council hosted over 525 prearranged business meetings with buyers from across the UK and abroad. The stand was made up of several local partners including Ardoe House Hotel, Banffshire Coast Tourism Partnership, Visit Royal Deeside, Thistle Hotels and Secret Malts of Aberdeenshire.

Steve Harris continues,

“Expo gave us a collective opportunity to create personal relationships with genuine buyers and decision makers, many of whom had a low level of knowledge of our area prior to Expo. Personal interaction and the chance to convey the passion of our partners for the beautiful area we live in leads to long lasting business connections, leading to positive business outcomes for all.

“The on stand meetings were just the start, we now need to follow up on these leads to bring more groups of travellers to Visit Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Picking up this award shows we’re leading the way in maximising the business opportunities these types of trade shows bring for the area.”

VisitAberdeen is a partnership between Aberdeen City Council and the industry including Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels Association and Aberdeen Inspired. For further information contact VisitAberdeen on 01224 900490 or visit www.visitaberdeen.com.

Aberdeen City And Shire Tourism Awards Returns

Aberdeenshire, Articles No Responses »

Apr 232015

With thanks to Beverly Tricker.

Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards (ACSTA) will return for an encore performance this year so that operators can fly the flag for the local area in Scotland’s national tourism accolades.
Those who pick up honours at ACSTA later this year will represent the north east at the Scottish Thistle Tourism Awards 2016, at which the nation’s best will be recognised.

ACSTA held its annual awards dinner in January this year but in order to meet the timeframe for next year’s Scottish Thistle Awards, another ceremony will take place on November 27th, 2015. Entries are now open for 14 different categories.

All of the categories are aligned with the Scottish Thistle Awards, and this year there will be new sections, including Tourism – Everyone’s Business, which is open to any organisation, from community groups and destination management bodies to transport providers and retail venues, that inspire best practice when it comes to looking after visitors.

Another new category is Hospitality Hero which is open anyone working on the front line and who is dedicated to providing a special experience to visitors.

The awards are once again being supported by the Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association, which is appealing for businesses of all sizes to submit entry forms and show the high quality tourism offering in the area.

The launch coincides with the arrival of the VisitScotland Expo – a business to business travel trade event – in Aberdeen this week. The event at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre will attract hundreds of international delegates.

ACSTA chairman Iain Watson says,

“With such a huge week for tourism in the north east we felt that it would be a very appropriate time to open ACSTA up for entries. Hundreds of delegates from all over the world will be attending Expo and seeing for themselves what this part of Scotland has to offer.

“We are in an unusual position of holding two awards ceremonies within a 12 month period, but we felt it was essential that we took steps to align ourselves with the Scottish Thistle Awards.

“This means that all of our winners will become regional winners of the Scottish Thistle Awards, and will go on to compete in the national final. They will be up against other tourism operators from all over Scotland, and will show the exceptionally high quality of what we have to offer here in the north east.

“We have had a fantastic response to ACSTA over the past two years, and I sincerely hope that individuals and businesses will continue to support an event that has fast become one of the key dates in the hospitality sector calendar.

“We urge them to get their entries in as soon as possible, and help us to show the rest of Scotland that we are in a league of our own when it comes to looking after our visitors.”

Entries for ACSTA will open at www.acsta.co.uk are now and will close on June 19, 2015. Three entries will be shortlisted for each category and the winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Ardoe House Hotel and Spa in Aberdeen on November 27, 2015.

The full list of awards categories is:

• Tourism – Everyone’s Business

• Best Informal Eating Experience

• Best Event/Festival

• Innovation Award

• Friendliest Pub/Bar

• Best Visitor Attraction

• Most Hospitable B&B Guest House

• Best Restaurant Experience

• Best Holiday Accommodation

• Most Hospitable Hotel

• Young Ambassador Award

• Ambassador

• Best Outdoor/Adventure Experience

• Hospitality Hero

Rover SD1 Vitesse on ‘For the Love of Cars’

Aberdeenshire, Featured, Information No Responses »

Apr 232015

Grampian Transport Museum vehicle to feature on Channel 4 this Sunday. With thanks to Martyn Smith.

A former Grampian Police vehicle will be the star of the small screen this weekend when it is featured on Channel 4.
Now in its second series, For the Love of Cars is presented by Philip Glenister (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes) and Ant Anstead of Evanta Motor Company as they set about restoring iconic cars to their former glory, before selling them on at auction.

The Rover SD1 Vitesse – the only such example operated by Grampian Police – was in operation from 1985 to 1988 and would patrol the then new Stonehaven bypass, checking for speeding vehicles. Along with six other vehicles which were also restored for the series, it was put under the hammer on 10th January at Coys auction at the NEC in Birmingham.

Commenting at the time, curator Mike Ward was delighted to be able to bring the vehicle back to Aberdeenshire:

“We’ve been aware of this particular vehicle for some time now – it’s no stranger to our museum and in fact has appeared here before. When we found out that it was up for sale it was always our intention to try and bring this rare example ‘back home’. The hammer went down at £9,750 which is a new world record for a Rover SD1 at auction.”

The Rover has been on display at the Alford museum since the start of the season and was the star of the recent ‘Emergency Vehicle Rides’ afternoon, driven by former police driver Ian Slorach.

Series 2 of For the Love of Cars continues at 8pm on Sunday 26th April on Channel 4.

Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.

Hotel Staff Clock Up Phenomenal Long Service Record

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

Apr 172015

With thanks to Eoin Smith, Tricker PR.

Jean Ryrie has worked at the Thistle Aberdeen Airport for 39 years.

The hospitality industry is notorious for high staff turnover; employees often flit from job to job without hesitation or loyalty. But Thistle hotels in Aberdeen are bucking the trend.
Thistle Aberdeen Airport hotel boasts an experienced team that have stuck together through thick and thin, including a core team that has over 260 years’ experience in the hotel – that’s 21 years longer than the United States of America has been in existence.

Leading the pack is executive head housekeeper Jean Ryrie, who has been a valued member of the team for 39 years.

Recently nominated for housekeeper of the year at the Scottish Hotel Awards, her passion for greeting colleagues and guests with a smile has never faltered.

Jean says,

“Working for Thistle is a fantastic experience. If it wasn’t, I would never have stayed so long. The staff here are like one big family, and we all get on really well. That sense of camaraderie really makes the working day fly by.”

Always willing to go the extra mile for those staying in the hotel, Jean has been known to go above and beyond to ensure her guests are safe and happy during their stay.

Jean remembers,

“One guest that sticks in my mind was a man who called the housekeeping office to ask for extra blankets. It’s not an unusual request so I brought some up, but when I arrived at his room I found him ill in bed with an awful temperature.

“I asked reception to call for a doctor, and kept an eye on him until one arrived.

“One time I visited his room and he had gotten so much worse that I couldn’t wait for the doctor any longer – I called for an ambulance, and he was rushed to hospital.”

The guest was later diagnosed with septicaemia, a severe form of blood poisoning that could have led to fatal complications had Jean not taken action.

She continues,

“I didn’t think twice about calling the ambulance. If a guest is in need, I always feel it is my duty to do whatever I can to help them, and I know my colleagues feel the same way.”

Jean’s caring nature is not just reserved for the hotel’s guests, meaning that she has a hard-working and dedicated team that have stayed with her during her career in the hotel. Ensuring that they are treated and trained well, Jean makes sure everyone in the housekeeping department feels a valued member of the team.

Alongside new recruits, Jean’s hard-working team includes Margaret Esson (31 years), Camilla Jones (26 years), Brenda Paterson (24 years), Emma Singer (24 years), Audrey Western (23 years) and Fiona Cruickshank (13 years).

General manager Alison Christie says,

“I am absolutely thrilled that so many of my colleagues have chosen to stay at the Thistle Aberdeen Airport for so long. Having such experienced staff means that everything in the hotel runs smoothly – there are very few situations they haven’t come across before. We really are a well-oiled machine.”

That dedication to the job is not just reserved for the housekeeping department, however, and many other teams in the hotel boast extremely experienced staff who have stayed at the hotel throughout their careers.

Food and beverage operator Christina Grant has been a member of the catering team for 34 years, working with breakfast supervisor Lesley Martin and kitchen assistant Ruby Henderson, who have been there for 30 and 29 years respectively. Head chef Richard Simpson has been overseeing the kitchen for a decade.

Alison adds,

“We often see guests returning to the Thistle Aberdeen Airport every time they visit the city. They enjoy seeing the same faces when they check in – it’s like coming to a home from home.

“The continuity guests get from visit to visit means that they always know that they’ll receive top quality service, and I am delighted that we are able to provide that.”

Thistle has three hotels in Aberdeen – The Caledonian, Aberdeen Airport and Aberdeen Altens. There are 446 bedrooms across the three venues, and each has conferencing and banqueting facilities. Aberdeen Altens also has an on-site leisure club and spa. Further information is available at www.thistle.com

Airport Hotel Among UK’s Best Meeting Venues

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

Apr 142015

With thanks to Eoin Smith, Tricker PR.

An Aberdeen hotel has been recognised in a national accreditation scheme which aims to identify the country’s best meeting venues. Thistle Aberdeen Airport has been awarded a commended rating by BDRC Continental – a meetings sector research specialist – based on feedback from customers.

VenueVerdict Accreditation, which is based entirely on genuine and verified customer reviews, means that Thistle Aberdeen Airport is delivering a level of customer service to meetings and events customers which is considered to be above the national average.

The four-star venue has a main ballroom capable of seating 250 guests, along with a number of smaller meeting rooms. The hotel provides meeting space for several global oil majors located in the Granite City, and is one of only a handful of hotels in Aberdeen to hold full emergency response plans for customers in the energy sector.

Although it has a large corporate customer base, it is also a very popular venue for weddings, dinner dances and charity events. It staged a variety of different events in 2014, with a high proportion of year on year repeat business.

The accreditation from VenueVerdict applies to the period from January to December, 2014. Thistle Aberdeen Airport general manager Alison Christie says that the venue receives consistently high feedback from customers.

She adds,

“To have that positive feedback formally recognised through the VenueVerdict Accreditation underlines that we are able to deliver consistently high standards. We always strive to go above and beyond for our customers in terms of their expectations, so we are very pleased to have this acknowledged.

“We believe that each and every event is individual, so therefore we should be delivering a level of service that reflects our willingness to put the customer at the centre of the whole process. It is that approach that has consistently earned us high praise from our customers, and keeps them returning to the hotel.”

During the period from January to December 2014, VenueVerdict featured 375 participating meeting venues and hotels in the UK and Ireland. The results were derived from around 21,250 individual pieces of feedback.

Emergency Services Return To Transport Museum

Aberdeenshire, Information No Responses »

Apr 032015

With thanks to Martyn Smith.

The emergency services will be returning to the Grampian Transport Museum on Friday 10th April for the annual ‘Emergency Vehicle Rides’ afternoon.

The inaugural event, which took place in 2014, proved extremely popular with over 900 visitors flocking to the museum for the opportunity of a ride in a police car or fire engine and there are even more vehicles confirmed for this years event!

The museums recently acquired Rover SD1 Vitesse police car will make its first public appearance since returning to the North East in January. It will be driven by Ian Slorach, a former officer with the Grampian Police Force.

Ian will be taking to the wheel and chatting to passengers about the vehicle, which was a one-off in the Grampian fleet when commissioned in 1985.

A privately owned 1970s Commer Fire Engine, which made its debut appearance at the first Emergency Vehicle Rides event, is also set to return.

Other vehicles already confirmed include a Mountain Rescue Land Rover and Green Goddess fire engine – the type originally used by the Auxiliary Fire Service and latterly held in reserve by the Home Office. The Green Goddess famously made a return to service during the fire fighters strikes in 1977 and, more recently, in 2002 when they were operated by members of the Armed Forces.

Emergency Vehicle Rides take place from 2pm to 4pm and are included in the museums standard admission. Due to popular demand there will be a second Emergency Vehicle Rides afternoon taking place on Thursday 6th August.

On Wednesday 15th April the Easter fun continues with a Spring Activities afternoon. There will be fun activities, crafts and quizzes for all of the family plus face painting and performances from local magicians ‘Allan’s Magic’

Older Entries Newer Entries