Families can get up close to two children's TV stars at fun day to celebrate navy museum deal

An action-packed family fun day is being held in Hartlepool to celebrate the arrival of the National Museum of the Royal Navy in the town.

CBeebies presenter Andy Day and CBBC’s Nicola Wood will be appearing as part of the fun.

Hartlepool Borough Council and the NMRN have organised the fun day – called ‘Welcome Aboard!’ - at Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience – which is being renamed the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool – this Saturday from noon to 5pm.

The event will be opened at noon by a volley of musket fire followed by speeches of welcome plus entertainment throughout the afternoon from BBC Tees on a special stage in the main car park.

Also taking to the stage will be CBeebies presenter Andy Day as he welcomes people on a Royal Navy museum adventure.

People will be able to step back in time with a host of historical re-enactments by Georgian naval crews, HMS Royal Marines, the Press Gang and the Naval Barber Ship Surgeon.

There will be gripping storytelling sessions for young seadogs and maritime arts and crafts sessions in the Museum of Hartlepool and Dr Twist’s Photographarium is set to enchant people on board the paddle steamer Wingfield Castle.

CBBC’s Nicola Wood will be inviting people to help her make a giant sand sculpture and there’ll be entertainment from Hartlepool Community Choir, a display by Hartlepool Sea Cadets and some tasty summer food and drink on sale.

The event finishes at 5pm with a dazzling display of daytime fireworks over the marina.

Museum chiefs have now taken over the running of Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience from Hartlepool Borough Council and over the coming years it will invest heavily in the site, creating a museum which will feature a host of items from its world-class collection and attract an estimated 140,000 extra visitors to the town each year.

Once completed, the new museum will tell the story of the Royal Navy surface fleet, the Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Marines and the Submarine Service and will include large exhibits such as aircraft and guns as well as changing exhibitions on special themes.

Council Leader Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher said: “We are very proud to welcome the National Museum of the Royal Navy to Hartlepool and we look forward to a long and exciting partnership with it.”

John Rawlinson, the NMRN’s director of visitor experience said: “We’re really looking forward to running events like this regularly so there are always lots of reasons to come and visit.

“It’s great to be working with the local community to tell the fascinating story of naval heritage in the region.”