Schoolchildren To Help Launch Public Appeal For Museum Of The Future

24th May 2010

The Royal Armouries today launches a major public appeal to help safeguard one of Hampshire’s best-loved historic landmarks for future generations.

A total of 51 pupils from Northern Junior School, Portchester, will watch the firing of a replica trebuchet at the official launch to raise the final £300,000 towards the £3.5m redevelopment of Fort Nelson near Fareham.

Sean Mannie, head of the Royal Armouries South, said, “It’s fitting that we will be joined at the appeal launch by Year 6 pupils from one of our local schools as one of our key aims is to secure this magnificent Victorian fort for future generations.

“This is our final drive to achieve our funding target and contributions, big and small, will make a difference.

The Armouries has already secured from generous support from:
• The Heritage Lottery Fund
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• DCMS / Wolfson Galleries Improvement Fund
• Foyle Foundation
• The John Ellerman Foundation
• J Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust
• HISTORYTM

Funds will be used to transform the museum – home to the national collection of artillery and cannon - into a visitor attraction fit for the 21st Century.  Improvements will include a dramatic new entrance gallery, The Orienteur, displaying the collection’s most iconic cannon, including Saddam Hussein’s infamous Supergun.

The transformed museum will also include a state-of-the-art education centre and facilities, featuring a new ‘classroom of the future’ and dedicated entrance.

For details of how to give, please contact Ellie Matthews, Individual Giving Manager, at ellie.matthews@armouries.org or call 0113 220 1966.

Alternatively, look out for the donation envelopes on your next trip to the Fort or visit  www.fort-nelson-hlf-development.org

Please maximise the value of your support by completing the Gift Aid form (Gift Aid means that for every pound given by a UK taxpayer, the Armouries receives an extra 25p from HM Revenue and Customs, at no extra cost to the giver).

The free national museum at Fort Nelson will remain open throughout the building phase in 2010, with an exciting programme of events.

Photocall: You are invited to send a reporter and photographer/camera crew to the appeal launch at 11.30am on Thursday, May 27, when the replica trebuchet will be fired. School children will be available to participate in the photocall.

Media contacts:

Catherine Kelly/Joss Loader, Primary PR Ltd.
Telephone: 01903 783832, 07704 130226, 07838 379599.
E-mail: catherine.kelly@primarypr.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

* The HLF grant to the project Fort Nelson re-development is for £1,832,000 (53% of project costs) and is a second-round pass, which means it is a confirmed award.

• The Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson houses the national collection of historic cannon and big guns. The museum houses one of the world’s finest collections with over 350 cannon dating back over 600 years and from every corner of the earth. The collection originated at HM Tower of London and has been on display in Hampshire since 1995. Website:www.royalarmouries.org.uk

• This year HLF is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Using money raised through the National Lottery, since 1994 it has not only revitalised hundreds of museums, parks, historic buildings, landscapes and wildlife sites, but has also given new meaning to heritage itself. People from every walk of life are now involved with the heritage that inspires them, making choices about what they want to keep and share from the past, for future generations. HLF has supported more than 28,800 projects, allocating over £4.3billion across the UK, including £428million to more than 3,000 projects across the South East England region alone.
Website: www.hlf.org.uk