Search & Rescue Exhibition in Falmouth

The exhibition, which opens in March, will show visitors the role of the maritime rescue services and celebrate the work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Royal Navy, Royal Air Force (RAF) and HM Coastguard.

Search & Rescue traces the evolution of rescue equipment from the early days of the rocket line invented by Cornishman Henry Trengrouse (1772–1854) to today’s equipment.

The Ministry of Defence is lending the museum a 21-metre (70ft) Sea King helicopter for the exhibition.

Visitors will be able to climb inside, dress as a pilot and listen to accounts from the crew and from those who have been rescued.

The helicopter is uniquely painted in the colours of both the Royal Navy (red and grey on one side) and RAF Search and Rescue services (yellow on the other).

Ben Lumby, Exhibitions Manager of National Maritime Museum Cornwall, says:

‘This is our biggest and most ambitious exhibition to date but more importantly it is the first time anyone has celebrated the maritime rescue services in this way.’

Rod Johnson, Chief Coastguard, says:

‘The UK is fortunate to have a maritime search and rescue organisation that is very highly regarded internationally. I hope that as well as learning about how maritime search and rescue operates, visitors will also come away with information about how to become safer whilst at sea and along the coast.’

The museum is open daily 10am–5pm, admission £9.50 adults, £7.75 seniors, £6.50 students and children 6–15, £ 27 family ticket (tickets allow admission for one year).

Search & Rescue opens on 16 March 2012 and runs for two years.

National Maritime Museum Cornwall

Discovery Quay, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 3QY

Tel: +44 1326 313388
Website: www.nmmc.co.uk
Facebook: National Maritime Museum Cornwall
Twitter: @TheNMMC