It seems strange to think about winter in the middle of summer but there is a good reason for it. I remember one Christmas seeing Tommy Steele in the title role of 'Scrooge' at somewhere like the Bradford Alhambra theatre. One of the big songs from the show was 'Thank you very much' - and it strikes me if there'd been a soundtrack to the event we held at the end of last month, this would have been it.
On a gorgeously sunny day in June we welcomed around one hundred guests to the reserve to say a huge 'Thank you' for all the help we received in transforming our old visitor centre into our magnificent new seabird centre. And it turned out to be a real day to remember.
From those who raised funds and those who'd signed cheques, to those who'd laid bricks and even those who'd
There were local dignataries and local And, of course, there were staff and volunteers too.
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Opening the proceedings was The Reverend Barnes Lawrence, vicar of Bridlington Priory in the mid 1800s. He explained how, appalled by the wholesale slaughter of the seabirds by Victorian shooting parties made up of tourists from Scarborough and Bridlington, he successfully fought to bring about the Seabird Preservation Act of 1869. Arguably this makes Bempton Cliffs the birthplace of seabird protection.
Mike Clarke delighted everyone with his response to the Reverend, and explained what the RSPB had been doing in the subsequent years to build on his good work. It was a privilege to have the charity's Chief Executive
Other speeches followed and then it was time for lunch.
The team from the Spa Bridlington laid on a fabulous spread and as everyone tucked in, there was the chance to chat and mingle and find out how everyone had played their part
Then it was time to see the star attraction - the new seabird centre. And there was plenty to see.
Personnel from the kittiwake ringing team were on hand to explain their work.
There were also 'climmers' wandering about telling tales of their exploits egg collecting on the cliffs. Like the Reverend, these were part of our live interpretation team who bring some of the history of the cliffs to life. Hearing their stories really does show the cliffs in a different light - not just a place but somewhere that helped support large families in an isolated rural community.
Finally, the event was rounded off with a series of walks around the reserve. The perfect ending to the perfect big day.