Fred’s models make everything shipshape at maritime museum
FORTY YEARS OF MARITIME MARVELS IN MINIATURE ON DISPLAY
A new museum - which pays a tribute to Sunderland’s ships and buildings - has been unveiled on Wearside.
Sunderland Maritime Heritage, in Church Street East, is the site of the new attraction which includes a tribute to the stunning model-making capabilities of Fred Gooch.
Since 1977, Fred has built models. They were the days when he was a 29-year-old worker in the shipyards.
And when the yards shut, he went to work in Barrow-inFurness where he built a model of a nuclear submarine.
Now, his collection of more than 40 years of models has gone on show and the first of three rooms has already opened.
Two more - one concentrating on steel ships and the other on wooden vessels - are expected to be ready and open in time for the Tall Ships Races coming to Sunderland in July.
For now, though, the public can view a selection of his work which includes; A Radiant 2 Yacht, An example of the Turret series of ships which were built at Doxford’s in the 1800s.
The SD14 George Papalious.
A model of the Queen Alexandra bridge.
The Goliath crane which was used in the construction of the North Pier. A model of the town hall. And one of the Victoria Hall.
Fred said: “They asked me if I would be interested in putting my models on display. They were all upstairs in my spare room at home.
“I started building models when I was 29 when I was working in the shipyards.”
The public can view the work on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am to 4pm.
There’a cafeteria too and lots more to look at in the home of Sunderland Maritime Heritage.
The group would also love to hear from anyone interested in joining their ranks as a volunteer.
Findoutmorebyvisitinghttps://www.sunderlandmaritimeheritage.org.uk, going to the society’s Facebook page, calling (0191) 5102540, or emailing info@sunderlandmaritimeheritage.org.uk.