Treasure Island Trail to Open in Bristol
After 10 years of campaigning the Bristol-based Long John Silver Trust will open the Treasure Island Trail around the city’s historic Floating Harbour at 1pm on Saturday, September 19th 2015.
Members of the public are invited to join The Lord Mayor of Bristol, Cllr Clare Campion-Smith and guests, outside the Merchant Venturers’ Almshouse at the Broad Quay end of King Street for the official opening.
Following the opening there will be guided walks around the trail which celebrates Bristol’s connections with Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Treasure Island.
“Throughout our campaign we have worked with Fishponds-based special needs charity PROPS to create the trail and they will be present on the day to assist the Lord Mayor with the ribbon-cutting ceremony,” said Long John Silver Trust vice chair Mark Steeds.
The trail will be marked by eight recycled 54- gallon wine barrels from Bordeaux. Each barrel is planted with a palm tree and carries information about the trail and the relevance of the eight sites to Treasure Island – the early part of the book was set in Bristol.
The barrels will also feature selected Mervyn Peake Illustrations from the classic 1949 edition of Treasure Island. In keeping with Bristol’s Green Capital and Cycling City status the barrels will incorporate innovative double cycle stands which also act to secure them to the ground.
The opening of the Treasure Island Trail will be followed by a special screening of ‘The Pirates’ by Aardman Animation at Arnolfini at 3pm (tickets just £5 from www.bristolticketshop.co.uk). From 5pm there will be two special piratical sailings of The Matthew from outside Arnolfini.
September 19th is also International Talk Like a Pirate Day, inspired by Robert Newton’s portrayal of Long John Silver in Disney’s 1950 adaptation of Treasure Island. Pirate dress for the day is optional.
Notes to Editor
Contact details: Vice Chairman Mark Steeds (mark@beaufortarms.com) Richard Jones (07890 267983 richard@tangentbooks.co.uk)
For further details visit www.longjohnsilvertrust.co.uk
Tickets for the showing of The Pirates are available from www.bristolticketshop.co.uk or on the day at Arnolfini.