The Matthew of Bristol celebrates 25 years!

In 2022, 525 years after John Cabot’s famous 1497 voyage aboard the original Matthew, The Matthew of  Bristol will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of its own crossing of the Atlantic to Newfoundland. 

Image credit: Nick Greville.

The Matthew of Bristol Trust has a whole weekend of anniversary celebrations planned for the Early May Bank Holiday weekend, including public trips and events and an invitation-only VIP reception. 

On Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May, The Matthew will be hosting harbour trips during the morning (advance tickets only). Then, from 1pm to 5pm, The Matthew’s volunteers and trustees will be bringing a taste of Tudor Bristol to the harbourside with music, activities and special guests. Featuring displays and demonstrations by The Somerset Bodgers and woodturner Geoff Hannis, plus entertainment from a local  group of Tudor re-enactors and the Bristol Waites, a group of medieval-style musicians who have come together to recreate the music of the town waites of Bristol. 

• Tickets for the harbour trips are now sold out. 
• Entrance is free for the afternoon activities. 

On Monday 2 May, the actual anniversary of the ship’s voyage, The Matthew of Bristol Trust will be hosting a reception for invited guests and VIPS. 

Full programme of events: 
Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May 2022 
Harbour Trips: 10:30am and 11:30am
Including music from Bristol Waites and re-enactors presenting a short tableau. 
All trips now sold out
The Matthew will be open to the general public on Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May from 1pm to 5pm 
FREE ENTRY 

•  Wood carving by The Somerset Bodgers and Geoff Hannis  Music from Bristol Waites 
•  Knots and navigation table – demonstrations by The Matthew volunteers 
•  Displays of Tudor spices and examples of the types of fruit and veg eaten at that time 
• The Matthew of Bristol books on sale 
• Volunteers will be in Tudor dress 

Monday 2 May 2022 
12pm to 2:30pm 
Invited guests and VIPs only – this event is not open to the public
Guests include: the Lord Mayor of Bristol and the Deputy Lord Mayor, the High Sheriff, the Lord-Lieutenant, the  Lord Mayor’s Chaplain, Harold Clarke, plus previous Lord Mayors of Bristol. 

Arrivals from 12 noon. 
From 12:30pm: 
Speeches (with fanfare by the Bristol Waites before each speech):

• Welcome from Alderman Royston Griffey, chairman of The Matthew of Bristol Trust 
• The Lord Mayor 
• Followed by a blessing of the ship by the Lord Mayor’s Chaplain, Harold Clarke. 
• The proceedings will conclude with cutting the cake, a toast to the ship and a toast to the volunteers and 
• Trustees.