Report on the U-boat Surrender Event 2017Guildhall & Guildhall Square

BackgroundDerry City and Strabane District Council’s Museum & Visitor Service organised and delivered a programme of activities to mark the 72nd anniversary of the surrender of the German U-boats in the city and the Battle of the Atlantic using the Guildhall and Guildhall Square on Saturday 6th May 2017. The overall aim of the event was to build on the success of previous events, focusing on a single day with a wide range of activities, with extra re-enactments and a wider focus on 1940s Derry~ Londonderry.

OutputsThe key programme outputs were:

1. Slide show of U-boat images and underwater footage.

2. Meet the staff, have fun with our handling collection, see a selection of original items from the Museum Collection including items recovered from surrendered U-boats.

3. Children’s activities, jigsaws, colouring-in, dressing up, Morse code training and handling objects.

4. 1940s vintage stylist on hand to give tips throughout the day

5. Exhibit from local collectors on the Donegal Spitfire, World War II binocular collection, Kriegsmarine Collection and US Foyle Radio Collection.

6. Café Atlantic - War time style refreshments.

7. 1940s style photo booth.

8. Full size replica Spitfire (Ulster Aviation Society) and photo opportunity, (War Years Remembered) and UXB Bomb Disposal (Jonny McNee).

9. Re-enactments in US troop style, with military jeeps in the Guildhall Square.

10.Museum & Visitor staff in both authentic and inspired 1940s costume

11.Series of talks on the city during the 1940s including fashion and military significance

Marketing and promotionDCSDC Museum and Visitor Services worked closely with the Council’s Marketing Section to put together a full promotional programme prior to the event. Below is a list of marketing and promotional outputs:

Commemorative Booklet Outrunning the Wolf Pack re-printed Promotional leaflet and posters - distributed across the region Event press release issued by DCSDC Press Office Details posted on social media (Face book) via Visit Derry, CCI, What’s on,

Tower Museum and Guildhall pages Photographer hired on the day

Partners

Below is the list of partners who were involved in the event and who we aim to continue to engage with when planning next year’s programme:

Ulster Aviation Society Philip Faithfull (Abington Collection) James Stewart (Donegal Collector) Laila Scheinpflug (HLF Young Roots Project) Donegal Spitfire (Jonny Mc Nee) Royal Naval Association and Royal Canadian Navy veterans group Visit Derry Wartime Living History Association Ulster Military Vehicles Club DCSDC Press office Local media partners and newspapers DCSDC Marketing section DCSDC Walled City Market section

Budget

The total cost for the event not including staffing or room hire was £4,935 from the Museum & Visitor Services Budget.

IncomeThe total income received from book sales and from Spitfire is £338.56.

FeedbackOverall the event received great feedback and visitors were continuously streaming in and out of the Guildhall, as well as queuing for the Spitfire throughout the event. The suitable weather and the Walled City Market attracted a record number of visitors and the fascinating range of collections, photo booth and learning activities drew particular attention.

The variety of talks in the Guildhall was excellent and received great feedback from those who attended.

Lots of visitors were from outside the city and many were keen to share their memories of the Second World War and in particular the surrender of the U-boats. The range of audience reflected a great interest in this part of our history and the music and use of costume helped to create a war time atmosphere.

Visitor numbers:Guildhall 2464

Guildhall Square approx. 2000

Tower Museum 150

Total 4614

We received lots of great feedback on the day of the event and afterwards. Here is a sample of what people had to say:

‘The young generation need to know how important this city was in WWII’ – D.Boyd

‘This was a great display of original artefacts of the wartime stories from Northern Ireland. And thanks for the books which I am looking forward to reading!’

‘It would great to see some dance classes and tea parties next year’ ‘There should be a full scale model of u-boat made – could be outside of new

maritime museum – schools could get involved’

Recommendations

This event was highly successful and this is becoming established as one of the key events in the Museum Service’s annual calendar. The aim is to continue to develop it next year, with a large scale all weekend event to be planned for the 75th anniversary in 2020.

Next year’s event is booked for the weekend of the 18th – 20th of May to coincide with Royal Naval Association (RNA) plans and link with veterans travelling to the city

Full staff debrief of this year’s event to build on staff engagement Encourage more Second World War collectors to get involved next year Build on the partnerships created this year and source new partners Develop promotional partnerships with local and national agencies Strengthen the partnership with the Royal Navy and RNA Prepare draft programme for 2018 Develop schools engagement programme in lead up to weekend Develop use of the outside space at Guildhall Square – large displays with the

Ulster Aviation Society, War Years Remembered, Ulster Military Vehicles Club and any other potential collectors

Plan ahead with partners to work on the programme to mark 75th anniversary in 2020

Identify potential funding streams to enhance programme content and delivery

Link to further development work on the new maritime museum and archive

Derry City & Strabane District CouncilMuseum & Visitor Service15th May 2017