PRESS RELEASE
Save our Ship Campaign
Monday 17th August, PM
For Immediate Release
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"SAVE OUR SHIP CAMPAIGN" TO SAIL PETITION FROM NEWPORT TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Meanwhile visitors wanting to view ship arrive in their droves
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Newport Mayor Bob Poole, after considerable pressure, reluctantly promised
to accept a petition from the people of Newport lobbying for the
preservation of our 1465 Merchant Ship, named by the campaign the ISCA. A
large demonstration peacefully marched through the town this morning 19th
August 2002, blowing whistles and enjoying a family carnival type
atmosphere. It is notable that a large number of young people, who feel
passionately about this matter, attended, giving the demonstration their
full support.
However, on arrival at the Civic Centre, the Mayor was seen leaving in his
official car. The Chief Executive then presented the Mayor's apologies and
appeared to receive the petition, but it was decided by SOS that it would be
more appropriate to hand over the 6000 plus signatures to First Minister
Rhodri Morgan. The Campaign will sail the petition down to the National
Assembly for Wales.
SOS spokesman Charles Ferris commented:
"The Mayor only agreed to receive the petition after we threatened to have
two local teenagers appear on TV to say that Newport City council don't
care. He has now reneged on that agreement, and obviously doesn't care. He
is a coward, afraid of the people of Newport. If we can't trust the
council's word on receiving a petition, how can we trust them on the future
of the Ship ISCA?"
ISCA is still scheduled for destruction on 27th August.
Meanwhile visitors travelling from all parts of Britain to see the Medieval
Ship have been deeply disappointed as the site remains closed while
archaeologists race against time to document the find before building works
recommence on the 27th August.
During the last few days people have travelled from as far afield as,
Plymouth, Brighton, Leicester and Sutton Coldfield. Hundreds of local
families from the Newport Area, Swansea and the South Wales Valleys have
also made the trip in vain. The site has been opened to the public on two
evenings during the last two weeks but many of those who have missed out are
calling for Newport City Council to make arrangements for additional viewing
days before the site is covered up again. Over ten thousand people have
visited the ship on the two public viewing evenings held so far.
Supporters of the "Save Our Ship" campaign continue to mount an 'around the
clock vigil' to lobby for full recovery of the ship's timbers in the final
count down before the site is covered up again. Organisers of the S.O.S.
campaign have requested that Newport City Council arrange a further viewing
day and in the meantime are advising people not to travel without first
checking that the archaeological site will be open.
Intending visitors are advised to telephone Newport Civic Center information
on 01633 244491 or the Newport Tourist Information Centre on 01633 842962
for information about future open days.
Notes for Editors:
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1) The SOS campaign is being coordinated by local volunteers in Newport who
are calling for the full recovery of the timbers of the recently discovered
medieval ship. The ship was found during foundation works for the orchestra
pit of a new Theatre and Arts Centre, which is being funded with grants from
the Arts Council for Wales. The Welsh Assembly and Cadw have so far made
over £350,000 available to suspend construction and enable the recording
work to take place, but there is currently no plan to save more than a tiny
(less than 5%) sample of key timbers. National archaeological bodies
including the Council for British Archaeology and the Council for British
Archaeology Wales/Cymru have thrown their support behind the campaign.
2) The Newport Ship has been described as a cross between a cog and a Viking
longship, tree-ring dated to the winter of 1465/6 and apparently recently
returned from Portugal, with loads of Portuguese pottery and large lumps of
cork. Unique in northern Europe, she is the only extant example of a
merchantman of this period.
3) Newport Council already recognizes that the ship is an important find -
see http://www.newport.gov.uk/news/
4) Following recording and sampling, the majority of the ship is currently
due to be bulldozed over the 26/27 August public holiday
5) Local contacts for the campaign are: Charles Ferris - 01633 251665, Jan
Preece - 01633 244893, Simon Rutherford - 01633 273014 email:
[log in to unmask]
6) An email campaign is also being run encouraging people both locally, and
from across the world, to write to lend their support to the campaign - see
www.britarch.ac.uk/sosnewport.
ENDS
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