Downsizing at the museum

MORE used to working boats and the like, the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port will be downsizing next weekend with model boats.

The museum and Ellesmere Port Model Boat Club are joining forces to present a model boat weekend, with the museum basin and locks taken over by intricate radio controlled boats, demonstrating their owners' skills at both model making and boat piloting.

Opener

This Model Boat Fair will take place on Saturday 3rd March and Sunday 4th March, and be the museum's opener for the season.

There will also be exhibitions of model boats and stalls from traders with all the latest parts and accessories. Additionally there will be a 'bring and buy' sale for modellers, and weather permitting, some radio controlled truck driving about the museum site.

Half price

To celebrate the beginning of the new season at the National Waterways Museum it is a half price weekend, with entrance for adults costing just £3, concessions £2.50 and children £2.

Museum Marketing Manager Oliver Briscoe explains:

"This event is the traditional start of the year for us, and it's a fascinating weekend contrasting our heavy metal collection of historic boats with the modern electronic models on show!"

Also on the Sunday, visitors will also be able to visit a drained lock and get up close with a new set of lock gates which British Waterways have fitted at the museum.