Museum of Science and Industry

Performances which breathe life into Manchester’s historic pioneers of science and industry have won a Manchester Tourism Award. MOSI’s team of around 20 costumed characters, which range from 18^th century scientist John Dalton, to early railway travellers Mr and Mrs Chadwick and early aviators like A.V. Roe and Lady Sophie Heath, won the Tourism Experience of the Year 2009. Judges praised the passion and creativity involved in MOSI’s costumed character experience, and were impressed by the programme’s innovative and fun nature. 

The award comes just ahead of a costumed character extravaganza week at MOSI, when a number of the museum’s most popular characters will be performing at the Museum during May half term (23-31 May). The free events programme, called Heroes and Heroines of Flight, includes performances by the ‘Spitfire Girls’, which tells the relatively unknown story of the 166 young women who risked their lives to transport Spitfires to battle areas around Europe. On Wednesday they will be accompanied by the 1940s band, the Spitfire Sisters, and there will be a talk by Carol Gould, author of SpitfireGirls: A Tale of the Lives and Loves, Achievements and Heroism of the Women ATA Pilots in World War II.  

MOSI director, Steve Davies MBE, said: “I’m delighted that MOSI has won this award. Our costumed characters are constantly praised by visitors and it is one of the areas that we are working to develop further in the Museum. The characters really help to bring history to life for people and are a great way to learn facts in an entertaining way. But don’t take my word for it: come along this May half-term, as many of the characters will be out as part of our events programme.”

Other costumed characters which will appear during the week include the newly-developed character of A.V. Roe, who will be testing out his 1913 Avro 504 aircraft against his Yorkshire rival the Blackburn Monoplane – the event that set him on course to be Britain’s first aviator in 1909. Pioneer hot air balloonist James Sadler and Jack Alcock, the first person to fly across the Atlantic, will also make appearances.

ENDS

Heroes and Heroines of Flight events are FREE (except Planetarium) and is part of a series of events during 2009 to celebrate 100 years since the first flight. The programme runs between 23-31 May, from 10am-5pm. For more information visit www.mosi.org.uk or call 0161 832 2244.

For more information or images please call Sarah Roe on 0161 606 0176 m: 07847 372647 or Diane Inglis on Tel: 0161 606 0173.

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