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First Festival of the Sea at Yarmouth Minster
First Festival of the Sea at Yarmouth Minster
The Minster introduced a Festival of the Sea to Great Yarmouth, complete with Antarctic hut, crocheted fish, and sea shanties
In the first week of September Great Yarmouth Minster held its first ever Festival of the Sea, celebrating the town's maritime interconnection and heritage
The idea for the festival was born when the curate, Rev. Liz Dawes, met with Sam Ruddock who revealed that he was the co-creator of an art installation called ‘Deception Island’ – a replica Antarctic hut from the 1950s – Liz was determined to get it to the Minster and so the Festival of the Sea evolved
As well as Deception Island running film showings every day, there were two Kitchen Chemistry science shows, a drama workshop from the Vatic theatre company, along with a screening of ‘The Sea is a Hungry Dog’ – a film by Sophie Utting about coastal erosion on the Norfolk Coast, and a fantastic evening of sea shanties from the Rogue Shanty Buoys, attended by 150 people
The Reprezent team, headed by Ruben Cruz, also led community workshops to create a stunning textile and crochet mural which now hangs behind the altar in St. Andrew’s Chapel. Rev. Liz Dawes said “the final hanging of the mural in the sanctuary of the chapel was a really special moment, as so many people from diverse backgrounds came together to celebrate the creation of something truly spectacular. The detail in the mural is wonderful, with crocheted fish, coral and seaweed, and the Lydia Eva looks like its moving across the waves with real momentum”
The week ended with Heritage Open Days when lots of people came to climb up to the ringing chamber and watch the bell ringers in action, and view a maritime history exhibition in the Minster
Great Yarmouth Borough Council, the Diocese of Norwich and Great Yarmouth Rotary provided funding which enabled the events to take place across the week
Liz concludes “It was a wonderful week celebrating the sea and Great Yarmouth’s long relationship with it”
Pictures above of the sea mural created by the community and right the Rogue Shanty Buoys performing at the Minster, courtesy of Rev Liz Dawes
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Anna Heydon, 13/10/2024
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