Celebrate on board the ss Great Britain at the Victorian Christmas Banquet, from 7pm, in the luxury of the First Class Dining Saloon. Tickets include a sumptuous four-course meal, wines and port, plus Victorian style entertainment, souvenir menus and photographs. Cost: £85

11am to 4pm, December 18 & 19, 2004

Families can step back in time, and find out how passengers spent Christmas on board the ss Great Britain in the 1850s, making decorations and playing games. Families will make Victorian animation toys - thaumatropes or 'vision spinners' - as well as traditional Victorian decorations for the ss Great Britain Christmas tree. The workshops will run throughout the weekend from 11am to 4pm. Families and children can take home the toys they make.

Cost: included in the entry charge of £6.25 for parents; £3.75 for children; and £5.25 concessions - each ticket comes with a free return visit or discounted souvenir guidebook, during the ship> '> s conservation work.

-- Free admission to the ss Great Britain on September 11, 2004

SCAFFOLDING will come off the starboard bow of Brunel's magnificent ss Great Britain in time for the ship's Open Day.

Contractors have worked hard to ensure that the right-hand side of bow, and its decorations, will be ready for September 11 when visitors can explore the ship, at Bristol's Great Western Dockyard, free of charge.

Eura Conservation Ltd has painstakingly treated the bow for iron corrosion, and will replace the newly gilded decorations in time for the free event.

The ss Great Britain's Open Day will give visitors a chance to see the work already completed for free. These include the Dining Saloon, Captain's State Room and Berth, the Stewardess's Berth, and Ladies' Boudoir, as well as the stern, top deck, and part of the bow.

There will be entertainments for all ages ranging from shire horses and shanty men, to a steam engine and an art workshop for children. Actress Kim Hicks will help bring the ship's history alive. Mediaeval re-enactors will be on board The Matthew, the replica of Cabot's 15th century ship. The fire-boat Pyronaut will provide dramatic water displays on the harbour and a vintage bus will run between the ss Great Britain and Bristol Industrial Museum. And there will be a chance to win a car.

Visitors will also find out about plans for the Promenade Deck, the glass plate, new museum and education centre - all due to be completed by end of May 2005.

The event will be part of the 'Bristol Doors Open Day' initiative on September 11, and will be amongst 65 cultural, historic and industrial venues open across the city.

The ss Great Britain Trust's Director Matthew Tanner said: "Removing the scaffolding from the front of the bow, will make a huge difference to the ship. We are delighted with the quality of work. The fact that the starboard bow will be unveiled in time for the free Open Day is an added bonus. Visitors of all ages will have a lot to see and enjoy."

Mr Tanner added: "Whilst the ship was truly revolutionary, her decorations were traditional in design and manufacture. We have used the same traditional gilding skills which were used in the mid 19th century."

The ship's figurehead is the Royal coat of arms, flanked by a lion and a unicorn, with decorations representing symbols of Victorian art and industry. They include a carpenter's square, dove of peace, gear wheels and tailor's shears, the globe, a lyre, trumpets, a book and flowers. The ss Great Britain Trust used sketches made at the time of the ship's launch in 1843, and printed in the 'Illustrated London News', as a basis for the new decorations.

Work on the bow and decorations has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Goldsmiths' Company.

SET SAIL ON BOARD THE MATTHEW!

'LAND lubbers' will have the chance to find out what life is like on board The Matthew - Bristol's replica of a 15th century square-rigged caravel.

The ss Great Britain Trust, which manages The Matthew, is offering a limited number of passages to join the crew, and explore the waters around the UK, and France - in a replica of the ship used by explorer John Cabot.

Passages, costing between £100 and £400, will range from one-day sailings, hugging the coast around Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon and Portishead, to four-day voyages from Swansea to the Isle of Man, via a night's stop at anchor off Skomer Island - the National Nature Reserve close to the Pembrokeshire coast. Would-be sailors are also invited to join the ship in France, at Douarnenez, for the 'Festival at Brest 04', for the return voyage to Penzance.

The Matthew's full sailing programme for 2004 is Bristol to Swansea, June 1 to 3; Swansea to Isle of Man, June 5 to 9; Douarnenez to Penzance, July 17 to 19; One-day sailings from Penzance on July 21 and 22; Penzance to Portishead, July 23 to 26; Day sailings and Avon Gorge cruise from Portishead to Bristol, on July 28, 29 and 30.

Mike Cannings, Commercial Director for the ss Great Britain Trust, said: "The Matthew is putting to sail again this summer, and in response to popular demand, we are offering a few limited passages for sale. Some trips will include a night at sea, and we encourage active participation in the watch system and general running of the ship. The aim is to enjoy the sailing, and have fun, literally 'learning the ropes' as part of a crew, on board the replica of a 15th century square rigged caravel."

When The Matthew is not at sea, she is moored in Bristol's floating harbour. Visitors can go on board as part of the general entrance ticket price to the ss Great Britain, at the Great Western Dockyard.

The skipper will also be taking The Matthew on 30-minute mini cruises as part of the entrance ticket price on May 14 and October 10. The Matthew evening harbour cruise and supper will be on August 13, September 7 and October 8 (priced at £24 per person). The Matthew is also available for hire for private and corporate functions.

* For bookings and further details please call the Purser's Office on 0117 922 5737 or email svmatthew@ss-great-britain.com - details are correct at time of writing, but the skipper reserves the right to change plans, for weather and for safety reasons.

EVENTS TEAM STEAMS AHEAD

THE events team at the ss Great Britain is steaming ahead with an exciting programme of activities – featured in the new visitor leaflet.

It is business as usual for events staff members, who are working around the exciting developments on board the ss Great Britain and the dry dock as it is transformed over the next 18 months to become one of the most exciting historic ships to see in the world.

Highlights include Easter egg hunts, children’s workshops, harbour cruises on board the replica 15^th century vessel the Matthew, as well as opportunities to dine in style (see Editors’ Notes for full events list).

Children’s activities range from drama workshops, and detective games, to art-based activities, and practical sailing skills. Special dinners include the summer deck buffet, sea shanty nights with food fit for a sailor and entertainment on the side, and the Victorian Christmas banquet.

Key stages of work on the ss Great Britain, her dock and the new museum – supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund – are also listed. Visitors are able to plan visits around developments from the unveiling of the captain’s cabin to the installation of the first glass plate at the ship’s waterline.

The ss Great Britain Trust is also working alongside other museums and attractions on a number of initiatives highlighted in the leaflet, including Docks Heritage Weekend, the Bristol Harbour Festival, Bristol Avon Regatta and the Bristol Doors Open Day event.

The new visitor leaflet will be distributed to sites across Bristol and the south west. Alternatively please log on to www.ss-great-britain.com for latest information on news and events.

May Events: May 14 Free Matthew Harbour cruise included in admission price; May 15-16 2004 Docks Heritage Weekend; May 31-June 4 ‘Deck Detectives’, a chance for children to become detectives and follow a trail around the ship

June Events: Completion of conservation work to the 1839 dry dock

July Events: July 27 & 29 ‘Coast to Coast Collage & Deck Drama’, summer holiday workshop every Tuesday and Thursday for 7-11 year olds; July 31- Aug 1 Bristol 2004 Harbour Festival

August Events: Aug 3, 5,10,12,17, and 19 ‘Coast to Coast Collage & Deck Drama’, summer holiday workshop for 7-11 year olds; Aug 13 Matthew Harbour Cruise with buffet 6-10pm (tickets £24); Aug 20 Summer deck buffet 7-11pm (£55); Aug 28-30 The Harry Brown Shanty men perform 11am to 3pm and shire horses offer young and old a gentle tour around the dockyard in patent wagons; Aug 29 Bristol Avon Regatta

September Events: Sept 7 Matthew harbour cruise followed by buffet 6pm-10pm (£24); Sep 11 Free open day to coincide with the Bristol Doors Open Day initiative

October Events: Oct 8 Matthew harbour cruise followed by buffet 6pm-10pm (£24); Oct 10 Special Offer - Free Matthew Harbour Cruise included in admission price; Oct 25, 27, 29 ‘All Strung Up’ – 10 to14 year olds learn practical seamanship skills (pre-booking required); Oct 22 First glass plate to be installed at the ship’s waterline; Oct 24 Victorian magic lantern show – performances throughout the day

November Events: Nov 11 Sea Shanty Night (£35); Nov 25 Lift to be installed inside the ship’s funnel, enabling disabled access to all levels; Nov 25 Opening of the surgeon’s cabin and other cabins on the Promenade Deck

December Events: Dec 9 Victorian Christmas Banquet (£85); Dec 18 & 19 Victorian Christmas family weekend workshop; Dec 12 Conservation work completed on the new museum and education centre.

THERE’S A RAT IN MY CABIN, WHAT AM I GONNA DO?

A RAT will provide the finishing touch to months of work for the Captain’s berth, on board the ss Great Britain – ready for the Easter holidays.

The completion of three cabin reconstructions on board the ss Great Britain gives visitors a fascinating insight into life on board the ship, on her maiden voyage to Australia in 1852. Visitors will be able to see the finished Captain’s Cabin and Berth, and the Ladies’ Boudoir from Thursday (April 8).

Local contractor Yeo Valley Joinery has used traditional methods of craftsmanship, to ensure that the area, between the promenade deck and the engine room, is historically accurate and meets modern safety and access requirements. The work follows months of scrupulous research into original plans, drawings, diary entries and other archive materials.

Every room and object – from navigation charts and carpeting to lamps and toys – has been painstakingly researched, and the stories depicted are based on authentic experiences.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is helping with 70 per cent of the costs, but the Trust still needs to raise match funding, and has already approached its members for donations.

Travel on board Brunel’s ss Great Britain was luxurious for first class passengers, but in 1852 the 80-day voyage to Australia could be unpleasant. Scenes will show Captain Barnard Mathews and the chief engineer furiously arguing over whether coal supplies will be enough to take them to Cape Town. And the Stewardess’s Cabin, which will be finished next week, will reek of vomit, as she tries to cope with the rolling motion of the huge iron ship.

The Ladies’ Boudoir, however, will provide a refuge for the first-class female passengers, and a school and play room for their children.

Curator Shane Casey, who has worked closely with designers and sourced props for the cabins, said: “Everything has been meticulously researched, using visual and written records, from the way the rooms were built, to how they were used, and how passengers behaved in them. Our new rooms will recreate the experience of life on board the ss Great Britain and we want to achieve the same standards throughout the ship. There are many intriguing stories. We know about one particular rat, which was a regular visitor to the Captain’s and first-class passengers’ cabins. According to the diaries this rat had an annoying habit of stealing socks!”

The new spaces are a valuable education resource, and will provide the inspiration and backdrop for the Trust’s ‘Drama on the High Seas’ workshops for children, on April 14, 15 and 16, between 2pm and 4pm.

Shane added: “Visitors over the Easter holidays will have a lot more to see inside and outside of the ship, and there will be shanty men, shire horses and an Easter egg hunt during the Easter weekend, and children’s workshops later in April.”

Diaries will help shape the content of the Trust’s audio and video guides, which will be ready next year.

Readers who want to help support the Trust’s work should send their gift to the ss Great Britain Trust, Gas Ferry Road, Bristol BS1 6TY. Cheques should be made payable to the ‘ss Great Britain Trust – Ref. Captain’s Cabin Appeal’.

DRAMA ON THE HIGH SEAS WITH THE SS GREAT BRITAIN!

CHILDREN will be stepping back in time this Easter to discover what life was like for Victorians on board the ss Great Britain.

The drama workshops, called 'Drama on the High Seas', will run between 2pm and 4pm on April 14, 15 and 16.

Led by drama education officer Mike Akers, from the Travelling Light Theatre Company, they will keep children aged between seven and 11 years entertained - pre booking is essential.

The drama workshop is the latest in a number of initiatives organised by the ss Great Britain Trust's education department. Grant funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund has meant the ss Great Britain can now offer children and schools activities throughout the year - although the Trust still needs to raise match-funding from admissions and donations as well as charitable trusts and corporates.

Other children's events will include 'Deck Detectives' May 31 to June 4; 'Coast to Coast Collage & Deck Drama' July 27 and 29, August 3, 5, 10, 12, 17 and 19; 'All Strung Up' October 25, 27 and 29; and 'Victorian Christmas Weekend Workshop' December 18 and 19. There will also be shanty men, shire horses and an Easter egg hunt over the Easter weekend.

Education Officer for the ss Great Britain Trust, Harriet Jefferies, said: "Join us to recreate life on board the ss Great Britain for Victorian passengers - facing sea sickness, the danger of being swept out to sea, as well as extreme boredom!

"Children will devise their own plays using puppets, much as they would have done 150 years ago when a voyage to Australia would have taken 65 days.

"There will also be games on a nautical theme, character inventions, and a chance to see what Victorian toys were like."

Harriet added: "We have activities for children throughout the school holidays, and also offer curriculum-based activities for schools."

· To book a place on the drama workshops please email education@ss-great-britain.com or phone the education department on 0117 926 0680 ext. 221.

· 'Drama on the High Seas' is included in the entrance fee of £3.75 for children.

Extreme Iron: Science and the future of Brunel’s steam ship 

Hands-on exhibition with nearly a thousand original artefacts from the world’s first great ocean liner, ss Great Britain, detailing the history and the process being used to conserve Brunel’s iron-built steam ship.

Admission price includes hard hat tours of conservation areas on board the ss Great Britain, and entry to The Matthew, a replica of John Cabot’s 15^th century sailing caravel.

Buy tickets for events:

The SS Great Britain is open most days, call for more information. Don't miss out on this must see Bristol attraction.

 Telephone:  0117 926 0680.