AHOY there! Rumours are rife that pirates will be taking over Great Yarmouth's Town Hall have been confirmed.Shiver-me-timbers, expect to see copycats of Long John Silver, Captain Cutlass, Jim “Lad” Hawkins and plenty of eye-patches.

AHOY there! Rumours are rife that pirates will be taking over Great Yarmouth's Town Hall have been confirmed.

Shiver-me-timbers, expect to see copycats of Long John Silver, Captain Cutlass, Jim “Lad” Hawkins and plenty of eye-patches. Mayor's secretary Laura Goodman confessed that guides for this year's tours of the building during the Maritime Festival have been so hard to recruit that she has turned to seafaring bandits.

She said: “In fact they are really council staff who have jumped at the chance of dressing up for two days. It will set a light-hearted tone. As well as the entertainment on South Quay and the river, we will be inviting people to come and enjoy a guided tour of the town hall. Despite the exterior being shrouded in scaffolding and plastic sheeting this is an ideal time to see some of the borough's treasurers and learn the history of the building.”

The town hall will also play host to local historian Colin Tooke who will give 30 minute talks during the two days on Newtown, South Quay, the town centre, and topically in its 800th anniversary year King John's Charter.

There will also be a model boat exhibition at the town hall. Gorleston Model Boat Club, will be displaying special exhibits around replicas of the Titanic and one of its tender's Nomadic.

The event will begin on Saturday September 6 at 10am with the Mayor Cllr Terry Easter leading a civic procession to the South Quay. Teas will also be available.

Colin Tooke's talks are:

Saturday - 12.30 Newtown, 2pm King John's Charter, 3.30 South Quay

Sunday - 11am King John's Charter, 12.30 Town centre, 2pm South Quay, 3.30 Newtown.

Fish will be on the menu at the Festival where six of the region's top chefs will be demonstrating how to craft a range of nautically themed masterpieces throughout Saturday September 6 and Sunday 7.

Visitors will be able to re-create the recipes at home in their own kitchens as this year complete recipes and photos are included in the Maritime Festival Events Programme on sale now for just £1.

Visitors to Great Yarmouth's popular Maritime Festival will be able to come aboard and explore the fantastic Brigantine Mercedes, a luxury traditional square-rigged Dutch tall ship which will be alongside both days before leaving for cruises at 7pm each evening. Tickets are still available for cruises at 7pm on Thursday 4, Friday 5 and Sunday 7.

Great Yarmouth's very own steam drifter, the Lydia Eva will also be available for visitors to re-discover further to an extensive programme of refurbishment by The Maritime Trust.

For further information contact Mayoral and Civic Events Officer Laura Goodman on 01493 846125.

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