Cutty Sark Tours in British Sign Language (BSL)

Cutty Sark Tours in British Sign Language (BSL)

Date: 14 November 2015
Location: Cutty Sark, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9HT

Times: 11.30 -12.30 or 14.00 -15.00
Audience: Deaf (Suitable for 11+)

Fee: £17* | £13.50*: Disabled visitors, Concessions and Members (*Fee includes entry onto the ship.)

Join Deaf historian John Wilson for a tour of Cutty Sark and learn all about her history in BSL. Explore the 1869 clipper, celebrated for her record-breaking passages around the globe and find out about life on board and the story of this ship’s survival.

Well known in the Deaf community, John Wilson will give the BSL talk aboard the Cutty Sark. Born profoundly Deaf, John's first tour was on 25th April this year. Previously, he worked in Disability and Deaf Arts but then moved to freelance work giving talks in BSL on a wide range of topics in a number of different institutions – mainly high-profile art galleries and museums.

As with most BSL presenters/speakers, John sometimes work with an interpreter who translates his BSL into spoken English for the benefit of hearing people who do not know BSL, but the BSL Tour of the Cutty Sark will not have an interpreter present.

Commenting on his involving in opening up access to the Cutty Sark, John has said, "Leading a tour on board Cutty Sark is a bit of a dream job for me. I have always loved the sea and sailing and have a long-standing interest in historic ships and their voyages. My maternal grandfather was a sea captain, sailing a clipper very similar to Cutty Sark, the Ben Cruachan, working in the wool trade and when I was a child I loved the stories my mother told me about his life."

"I come originally from Captain Cook country and one of the highlights of my life was a short voyage on the replica Endeavour some years ago as it sailed from its mooring next to Cutty Sark up the east coast of Britain. So, it is not difficult for me when I’m on board Cutty Sark to conjure up images of the surf and spray in my face on a long voyage bound for far off lands – maybe passing the Ben Cruachan on the way!"

"So being on Cutty Sark is a bit of an indulgence for me. I enjoy talking about the history of the ship and her achievements in the China tea trade or the supernatural chase of Nannie and Tam O’ Shanter or the topsy-turvy world of Cutty Sark’s fortunes. I particularly enjoy being on the main deck where you can look up at the bare bones of the graceful masts and yards and admire the perfection of her proportions and the skills of the craftsmen who used wood and steel to make such a beautiful and effective ship."

Booking information

E-mail: bookings@rmg.co.uk
Tel: +44 020 8312 6608

Deaf and Hard of Hearing visitors enjoy concessionary rates to the ship and carers enter for free.

Tours convene at the Admissions desk, in the Shop.

*Please note that the BSL tours are for Deaf people or hearing signers who can follow BSL fluently. There are no voice-overs provided.