Yaldhurst museum gains naval display

Press, 30 December 1988, Page 4

Yaldhurst museum gains naval display

By

DAVID CLARKSON

The Yaldhurst Transport Museum has gained a naval display after a skirmish at the Ferrymead Historic Park. The Naval, Marine and Supporting Services Museum, which has been on show at Ferrymead since 1983, opened its doors at Yaldhurst on Wednesday.

The museum had decided to move about two months ago after talks over several months with the Ferrymead Trust Board about the quality of its displays, said the Ferrymead director, Mr Robin Sutton.

The board had spoken to all the groups with displays at Ferrymead about “improving the quality of their performance.”

The naval museum was the only group which had decided to move.

Its executive officer, Mr Clifford Fitness, said there was a far better feeling at the Yaldhurst display, which volunteer workers finished building at 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

The group has about 26 lay members and 17 uniformed members in the Fleet Air Arm section, who chose its name to

honour the many New Zealanders who were killed while serving with the Fleet Air Arm in Britain during World War 11, he said.

The group was called “The Toy Navy” by many people, but was proud of the name.

The museum was formed by former naval servicemen who saw a need for a naval museum in the region. The display includes a Sea Cat missile, a Royal Marine Commando canoe, a 251 b artillery piece, a jeep, paintings and models.

January 9, 10 and 11 have been set as the special naval display days at Yaldhurst.

Meanwhile, Ferrymead’s holiday attendances have been up to expectations, according to Mr Sutton. On January 15 a children’s fun day at the park, sponsored by Linwood City McDonalds, will mark its first big partnership with a non-media sponsor. This year has seen the start of a more market-led approach at Ferrymead, with a $25,000 grant for a marketing plan announced by the Government in August.