TR8

For immediate release

14 September 2006

This year’s Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival has been credited by its organisers as the biggest and best ever, with glorious weather and crowds of up to 40,000 visitors.

Huge crowds turned from far and wide turned out to celebrate Great Yarmouth’s rich Maritime Heritage and they were not disappointed with spectacular vessels and even more attractions, entertainment, craft stalls, demonstrators, artists and exhibitors than ever before.

The seventh annual festival was an enormous success, attracting crowds larger than the festival’s previous six years, visitors to the Town Hall were up 15% on last year and voluntary contributions on the gates were extremely generous, at nearly double the previous year, ensuring that the event breaks even this year.

The glorious weather shone throughout the weekend and the festival atmosphere was truly exhilarating with so many happy friendly faces.

Mayor of Great Yarmouth – Her Worship Councillor Sue Robinson, said ‘This is a fabulous event and I am very proud to be involved in my role as mayor. The festival was very well organised and it was great to see so many people there.’

Lieutenant Commander Guy Dale – Smith – HMS Atherstone, ‘Myself and ships company thoroughly enjoyed the festival and had an extremely busy time. We look forward to either ourselves or another Navy ship returning next year.’

Captain Ian McDougall – Grand Turk, said ‘This was an absolutely fantastic weekend, with spectacular weather and the best visitor numbers yet. The festival was the biggest and best ever with more stall holders and exhibitors than previous years and a great quality of acts and entertainers. A wonderful weekend and the Grand Turk cannot wait to return next year.’

Andy Usher – Area Organiser for Jubilee Sailing Trust, said ‘It was fantastic to have the opportunity to promote the work of the Jubilee Sailing Trust and to demonstrate how people with disabilities can sail alongside their able bodied crew mates.’

Aileen Mobbs – Chairman of Maritime Festival, said ‘This year’s festival weekend has been a tremendous success and we have received some very positive feedback from visitors, stall holders, vessels, caterers and entertainers alike. The good weather definitely helped and the friendly, happy atmosphere of the festival was truly magical.

Alan Carr – Chief Executive of the Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority, said ’we estimate that visitor numbers reached the 40,000 mark this year, drawing our biggest crowds ever. People travelled from far and wide to the festival which is great for tourism, with visitors staying in the Borough specifically for the festival. We are already working on the 2007 event and we are happy to listen to new ideas. Thanks should also go to the dedicated team that organise the festival, who are largely volunteers.

Nicola Gibson – Marketing and Promotions Manager for Great Yarmouth Tourism, said ‘We hoped that this year’s festival would be the biggest and best ever and the 7th annual Maritime Festival certainly delivered that. It will be hard to top the success of this year’s festival, but the Committee will be sure to pull out all the stops for the 8th annual festival. These events are so important to us in strengthening the events programme within the local area and building Great Yarmouth’s reputation as a ‘Festival’ destination.’

Plans for next year’s Maritime Festival are already in progress and will be held on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September 2007.

For media enquiries please contact:
Nicola Gibson
Marketing and Promotions Manager
Great Yarmouth Tourism
Tel: 01493 846340
Fax: 01493 858588
email: nmg@great-yarmouth.gov.uk