The Museum welcomed 5133 visitors in 2017 (5010 in 2016) which was very pleasing. It’s always nice to break the 5000 barrier.
Visitors came from 21 different overseas countries, as well as from all corners of the United Kingdom. Germany provided the most overseas visitors (50) – was this the Rosamunde Pilcher factor? Australia came second (46) and the USA third (27). Most American visitors came from California and most Australians from Victoria. We had a handful of visitors from Sweden, Italy, New Zealand and France, and single visitors from Poland, Portugal, Uruguay and Kuwait.
Overwhelmingly the comments in the Visitors’ Book were very positive, praising the displays, the children’s activities and the “lovely” Stewards, the new surfing display drawing much favourable comment.
Here’s a selection of visitors’ comments!
- Thank you for the surf exhibition – reason we came (a visitor from California)
- Must be one of the best of its kind. Really informative
- Very touched by the memorials to all those remembered on the war memorials – touching and so impressive
- Daughter loved the Cuckoo Hunt. Warm welcome
- Came to see the Opie pictures
- Loved the model of the station
- Really loved the picture of the bellyboards
- Admire the dedication of the volunteers
- Dorca’s ghost gave me goosebumps
- Researching ancestors (an Australian visitor)