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Brunel's ss Great Britain, Ships, Boats & all that Jazz, for Harbour Festival

BRUNEL'S ss Great Britain will be playing its biggest role ever in this year's EDF Energy Bristol Harbour Festival - with the Classic Boat Festival, displays and activities for all the family.

Events are free and will be taking place in the waterfront performance area, next to the ship's Dockyard Café Bar on July 28 and 29 (or under cover if raining).

Alongside the ss Great Britain, the Classic Boat Festival will feature ever-popular vessels including The Matthew, the Discovery, and a fleet of classic rowing and sailing boats, pilot cutters and motor launches.

There will be live jazz and sea shanties, displays on boat building, maritime crafts and tuition in the art of navigation.

There will be lots to entertain children throughout the weekend from meeting Mr Brunel to playing with traditional Victorian games. There will also be face painting (for a small charge).

On Saturday (July 28) festival visitors can enjoy a welcome drink, 'first class' supper in the Dockyard Café Bar, a mini tour of the ss Great Britain, and view the stunning firework display from the ship's Top Deck (£39).

The Matthew, Bristol's own replica of John Cabot's 15th Century sailing ship, will be taking visitors on harbour tours throughout the festival.

The tiny replica ship, Discovery, will be moored near the ss Great Britain. The original ship took settlers to the 'New World' in 1607. The Discovery will be visiting Bristol as part of a celebratory 400th anniversary tour around the English coastline, telling the story of Jamestown and the early Virginian settlements in an onboard exhibition.

Bristol's six-oared Cornish pilot gigs will also be on display at the Classic Boat Festival.

Deborah Germaine, Commercial & Visitor Services Director for the ss Great Britain Trust, said: "Brunel's ss Great Britain will be playing a far larger role at this year's Bristol Harbour Festival than previous years. Ships, classic boats and sea shanties will provide the nautical focus at the waterfront performance area. There will be fun for all the family with free live music, boating displays and activities for children."

Deborah added: "The ss Great Britain is delighted to be playing a major part in this year's festival. This is a fabulous event for Bristol, for its residents, and visitors to the city."

Bristol City Councillor Rosalie Walker, Executive Member for Health & Leisure, commented: "We are delighted with the increased role the ss Great Britain and Underfall Yard are playing in this year's festival. Not only are they hosting the classic boat festival but also the ss Great Britain is a star attraction in her own right."

Rosalie added: "She is a famous landmark in the city and is a wonderful example of restoration. Visitors to Bristol make the ss Great Britain one of their first places to visit."

Underfall Yard's latest rowing gig, the 'Young Bristol', will also be launched during the festival weekend.

Brunel's ss Great Britain remains open throughout the festival and admission allows for free return visits for a year. The museum attraction continues to attract international acclaim, with recent award wins including 'Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2007' and 'Europe's Best Industrial Museum 2007'. Brunel's ss Great Britain provides a fun day out for all the family whatever the weather.

The EDF Energy Bristol Harbour Festival, July 27 to 29, is one of the UK's largest and most popular free festivals, showcasing the best of what Bristol has to offer in terms of maritime history, music and leisure.

Other events at the festival include circus and street performers, live music, and markets. Approximately 200,000 visitors are expected on the waterfront for the event.

Please call 0117 926 0680 to book the July 28 Dockyard Café Bar 'Food 'n' Fireworks' event or for further information on activities on the waterfront performance area.
For more information on the EDF Energy Bristol Harbour Festival 2007 log onto www.bristol.gov.uk/harbourfestival.

ENDS

For further information, and images, please contact Brunel's ss Great Britain Head of Marketing & Communications Dagmar Smeed 0117 926 0680 ext 219 or email dagmars@ssgreatbritain.org or contact Volunteer PR & Marketing Assistant Max Hampton on visitor1@ssgreatbritain.org or call 0117 926 0680. Journalists can receive up-to-date news alerts by registering on-line at www.ssgreatbritain.org.

Notes to editors:

1. Brunel's ss Great Britain is the world's first great ocean liner. Launched in 1843 to provide luxury travel to New York, the iron-hulled steamship revolutionised travel and set new standards in engineering, reliability and speed.

Today Brunel's ss Great Britain, is one of the UK's most exciting museums and visitor attractions.

Visitors step back in time in the new Dockyard Museum, before boarding ship as Victorian passengers, to explore the beautifully recreated spaces - from the First Class Dining Saloon and Promenade Deck, to the Engine Room and Steerage. Passengers' and crew members' stories are retold through automatic audio companions. The smell of newly baked bread, musty travellers, a smoky engine room and even vomit help bring the 19th century onboard experience alive.

But it is the ss Great Britain's glass 'sea' which is proving the greatest wow factor for visitors. In true 'Brunelian' spirit, the ship appears to be afloat on what is the roof of a giant dehumidification chamber. Technological innovation, inspirational design and some truly revolutionary features were key to the ship's early success, and remain essential to her ongoing conservation in the 21st century.

Admission allows FREE and unlimited return visits for 12 months making Brunel's ss Great Britain remarkable value for money.

In 2006 Brunel's ss Great Britain welcomed 200,000 visitors.

Special exhibitions are shown in the Baker Gallery, and the events calendar ranges from children's drama and craft workshops to sumptuous Victorian banquets. Brunel's ss Great Britain also welcomes school visits and runs National Curriculum linked workshops.

The process of conservation can never stop and costs more than £1 million per year. The ss Great Britain Trust receives no funding from central or local government and relies on visitors and events held on board as well as the generosity of members and supporters to fund work.

2. Award recognition to date includes: Winner: The Gulbenkian Prize for museums and galleries 2006 - the Biggest Arts Prize in the U.K.; Winner: 'Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2007', Enjoy England Excellence Awards; Winner: European Museum of the Year Awards 'Best Industrial Museum'; Winner: Museum and Heritage Awards for Excellence 2006 - Restoration/Conservation; Winner: Museum and Heritage Awards for Excellence 2006 - Permanent Exhibition; Winner: South West Tourism Excellence Awards: Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2006; Winner: Civic Trust Award for Architecture 2006 - with special commendation for its access systems; Winner: Bristol Civic Society Environmental Award; Winner: ADAPT Trust Award for 'Excellence in Access' 2006; Highly Commended: Best UK Tourism Project, British Guild of Travel Writers; Winner: The AHI Interpret Britain and Ireland Awards;

Issued by the ss Great Britain Trust, Great Western Dockyard, Bristol BS1 6TY www.ssgreatbritain.org

Reg charity no. 262158