Your stories of the seaside are wanted

The National Maritime Museum (NMM) has launched the Maritime Memories Machine, a touring pop-up van that will travel the country asking the public to share their stories, connections and memories of the sea.

The collected stories will contribute to one of four major new galleries opening at the museum in 2018.

The next stop on the tour will be Coventry, where the machine will appear in various locations, including Coombe Country Park, Edgwick Park, Tile Hill Library and War Memorial Park from Tuesday 13 June until Friday 16th June.. Visitors will be encouraged to explore their own personal connections to the sea by sharing their seaside memories and stories. Those who share their stories will have the opportunity to see their contributions on a digital interactive display that will be a permanent part of the NMM’s brand new National Lottery funded gallery, Sea Things, set to open in 2018.

The machine is operated by a team of Maritime Memory Catchers, who will invite passers-by to get involved in a number of sea-themed activities such as handling objects, listening and sharing sea-themed stories, taking seaside selfies, or even joining in with a seaside shanty.

The varied range of activities have been developed to pique the interest and curiosity of people who would not normally participate in museums or the arts, encouraging them to explore something new and different in a fun, informative and interactive way.

Supported by the National Lottery, the Maritime Memories Machine, which has been designed in the style of the iconic seaside ice-cream van with a twist, the machine is visiting 15 other locations across the country, including Derby, Leicester, Hull, Middlesbrough, Blyth, Stoke-on-Trent, Plymouth, Torbay, Southampton, Portsmouth, Hastings, Jaywick, Great Yarmouth, Luton and Slough before being welcomed back to London with a celebratory event at the beginning of September.

The Maritime Memories Machine is free to visit and booking is not required. Visitors who are unable to make any of the tour dates can still share their stories on social media using the hashtag #YourSeaStories or via the website at:

www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/maritime-memories-machine