Simon Clarke, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, has taken the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum’s campaign to return a 1790s tea tray depicting Cook’s death to Marton to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Wright MP. “The Museum does a brilliant job celebrating Cook’s legacy and his story underpins much of our local tourism business – securing this artwork would be a great way to attract more visitors” Simon explained, “with this in mind, I asked the Minister what support the Government or its agencies may be able to provide to help contribute to the £34,000 cost. His officials are now looking into the issue and will report back.”
The Captain Cook Birthplace Trust are hopeful that they will be able to raise the funds needed to return the tray to Teesside this year, to mark a big anniversary: “This is an important item of Cook memorabilia and to be able to bring it home again to his Birthplace in this 250th Anniversary year of his first epic voyage would be wonderful” said Trust member Robert Nichols, “we are absolutely delighted that Simon has taken our appeal to the Government Minister.”
Anyone wanting to support the campaign to return the artefact to Stewart Park can follow fundraising progress and make a donation at https://www.gofundme.com/CaptainCook250
