Plymouth Hoe where Drake was reputed to be playing bowls and in Elizabethan tomes told the Spanairds to wait.
This ON TOUR is a special version of a ship lecture delivered by TNU Editor-in-Chief Malcolm Ginsberg on Saga Spirit of Discovery as she left Falmouth Thursday 4 May on her way to Plymouth and mooring in The Sound the next morning.
Whatever way you arrive at Plymouth the story starts at the Pilgrim Steps where the colonist embarked on Mayflower for what was to become a 67-day voyage to the renamed New Plymouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Chris Amon & Bill Bryce. Fromt he book 'London City Airport - 30 Years Serving the Capital'.
My own connection with Plymouth goes back to 1976 when I visited my old friend from motor racing times Bill Bryce, a New Zealander who had set up a tiny airline called Brymon at Roborough Airport, sited on a hill at the outskirts of the city.
His business partner was another Kiwi called Chris Amon, the number one driver for Ferrari at that time, who never won a race for them.
Bruce McClaren was another one of the New Zealand set living in St Georges Hill, a very smart area near Weybridge South London, now the preserve of Chelsea footballers.
With the introduction of a Newquay – Heathrow air service in January 1977 Bryce took me on to handle the London end. I’ve been coming to the city ever since.
The name 'The Box' does not do justice to the amalgamation of early 20th century and 21st century architecture.
The Mayflower model
National Marine Aquarium.
Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor, (1879 –1964) was an American-born British politician and the first woman seated as a Member of Parliament (MP), representing Plymouth from 1919 to 1945 but very controversial with her views on Hitler, anti-Catholic and antisemitism. She lived at Clivedon, the lavish estate on the River Thames and was the founder of the Clivedon Set.
Mount Batten, overlooking The Sound, dates from this time, named after Sir William Batten. It has nothing to do with Prince Louis of Battenberg, the very successful former First Sea Lord, who changed his name to Mountbatten in 1917. Due to anti-German feelings prevalent in Britain during WWI, Prince Louis, his children, and his nephews, renounced their German titles and changed their name to the more English sounding Mountbatten. His son, also a Louis, Prince Philip’s uncle, was the last Viceroy of India, murdered by the IRA.
New Street The Barbican. The Gin Factory is not far away.
Your first visit should be the Mayflower Exhibition where you can take a journey through time with four floors and four centuries to explore. On the first floor is a model of the Mayflower. It was built on a 1:11 inch scale by apprentices at Devonport Royal Dockyard for the 350th year anniversary of the Mayflower Pilgrims sailing from Plymouth. It features 360 fathoms of rigging, 332 handmade blocks and six handmade sails totalling 64sq ft in area! The real Mayflower took 67 days to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Fit in a visit to the oldest gin factory in the country, just a 10-minute walk away. The area is called The Barbican.
Close by the steps is a bridge across Sutton Harbour, a yacht basin, and the National Marine Aquarium, home for 4,000 sea creatures. Alternatively walk by The Boathouse and up Lambhay Hill to The Hoe. The massive Royal Citadel is sometimes open, worth a visit, but do check. Also a short walk is the Ashkenazi Synagogue, the oldest of its type in the English speaking world. But check on its website for visiting hours.
You must visit The Box – Plymouth's museum, art gallery and cultural centre which is home to thousands of fascinating objects. The interactive history of the port is brilliant. At one point showing the building of the breakwater, the German Heinkel’s then fly over and attack the city.
The Royal William Yard and Drakes Island
Bucklands Abbey is connected to Sir Francis Drake and Sir Richard Grenville.
Port Vale and Potteries may be a long drive for a 12.30 kick-off but a 3-1 victory was icing on the cake. Thanks to Sky for the image.
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