As part of HM Coastguard’s bicentenary celebrations in 2022, Sheffield’s National Emergency Services Museum (NESM) has been working closely with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the National Maritime Museum Cornwall (NMMC) in Falmouth to develop the exhibition, called ‘Guarding the Coast’.
From being formally brought into existence on 15 January 1822 to prevent smuggling through to the high-tech technology now used today to keep people safe at the coast and sea, the exhibition features a wide-range of original objects, documents and imagery about HM Coastguard, as well as a collection of memorable stories – many from the men and women who have dedicated themselves to the service.
The exhibition has been funded by the MCA and, in a unique collaboration for NESM, will run concurrently in Sheffield and at the NMMC throughout the summer. St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery in Lymington, Hampshire, will also, separately, be hosting its own HM Coastguard exhibit later this year (5 March to 9 April).
Holly Gosling, NESM curator, said: “Like their counterparts in the fire, police and ambulance services, those working with the Coastguard help to save hundreds of lives every year at sea and on land and it's great to have the opportunity to show everyone their incredible history and amazing work. This new exhibition will give our visitors a real insight into their work and, as a museum that aims to celebrate all our emergency services, it's a terrific addition to NESM.”
Lindsey Skinner, of the NMMC, said: “For the first time in National Maritime Museum Cornwall's history we're running a concurrent exhibition with another museum, and we're thrilled it's an exhibition that celebrates the vital work of HM Coastguard. Cornwall is a coastal county, relying on organisations such as HM Coastguard to help keep everyone safe – our aim is that visitors leave this exhibition with a deeper understanding of the history of the Coastguard and the incredible work they do.”
Martin Leslie, Coastguard Operations Commander, together with Marc Thomas, Senior Coastal Operations Officer, have both been working with Area Management Teams and HM Coastguard volunteers in Cornwall to support the museum’s curation in Falmouth.
Martin said: “HM Coastguard is a key pillar of coastal communities right across Cornwall and it’s fitting that the museum in Falmouth, which is only a short walk away from our Cornwall Area Coastal Operations base and Falmouth Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) where we coordinate responses to emergencies situations in the South West and support our colleagues throughout the rest of the UK, should host this fascinating exhibit in what is a momentous year for everyone connected, past and present, with our service. We are proud of our dedicated staff and on-call volunteers who work tirelessly to keep people safe at the coast and at sea all year round and I’m looking forward to visiting the exhibition to learn more about our rich history and heritage.”
Bev Allen, Humber Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Commander, who is one of the team who coordinates HM Coastguard’s responses to incidents on the east coast of the UK – which includes Yorkshire – as well as other areas, said of the Sheffield exhibition opening: “Everyone associated with HM Coastguard is incredibly proud to have reached this amazing milestone and I'm grateful to be part of our dedicated service, working with brilliant colleagues at Humber Coastguard and around the UK day in, day out – including those who work for our partner emergency services – to keep people safe at the coast and out at sea. It’s a real pleasure to do what we do and I know that this exhibition will showcase our fantastic history as we continue to mark our 200th anniversary as an organisation throughout this year.”
