The National Maritime Museum in Falmouth received a special visit from TV presenter and celebrity Atlantic rower Ben Fogle.
Countryfile presenter Ben Fogle, who rowed across the Atlantic with Olympic rower James Cracknell in 2005, visited the Maritime Museum in Falmouth to film an educational video for the locally based WiSe Scheme, an eco-tourism operator training and accreditation organisation, and WWF-UK As an ambassador for WWF-UK, Ben offered his assistance to WiSe and Penryn based Oscha Productions to front an educational film targeting the boat owning public, offering advice on enjoyable, safe and sustainable viewing of marine wildlife in our waters.
With a few moments to spare after filming, Ben took the opportunity to tour the Museum's galleries and was particularly interested in seeing the tiny yacht Father's Day in the current Mad dogs, and Englishmen? exhibition. He was also reunited with his sock, which features as part of the Tim FitzHigham Red Nose Day English Channel bathtub row!.
Ben said: "Seeing all these incredible boats makes me feel like a kid in a sweet shop. There are so many interesting stories behind them all and I just have to have a photo of me stood beside Father's Day - I've bored my wife to tears talking about it! Amongst other projects, I'm currently presenting Countryfile and having seen the Museum today, it would be just wonderful to have the film crew here as the backdrop to a show."
Colin Speedie, Director of WiSe said: "Ben was genuinely excited at the chance of visiting the Museum, and seeing some of the exhibits - that made it far easier for us to persuade him to visit and assist us with our film! We know that his help will improve the finished item, and we were all delighted to have the Museum as a backdrop for what is an exciting and very local initiative."
Sylvette Peplowski, Marine Projects Officer at WWF said: "Ben is a born adventurer so he certainly didn't look out of place in the Museum, he is also keen to make a difference, so asking him to lend his help for the WiSe DVD seemed a natural choice. WWF has fully supported this project for many years. Learning how to co-habit with marine life should become second nature for everyone taking to the waters."
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