The Maritime Museum celebrates the development of British surfing over the past 60 years with a new exhibition.

Great British Life: CWOutside Tris Surfshop 1983CWOutside Tris Surfshop 1983 (Image: Archant)

The First Wave Project charts the development of surfing in Britain, from its early origins of lone surfers riding waves on make-shift wooden boards, to its current status as a cultural phenomenon. It includes nostalgic, inspiring stories from some of the most influential people of the British surfing scene and features over 100 audio and video clips of how surfing in Britain has changed over the decades.

Great British Life: Surfgirl in blue 1962Surfgirl in blue 1962 (Image: Archant)

60 years ago surfing was an almost unthinkable pastime in Britain and was confined to just a handful of brave pioneering souls. It is a very different story now with thousands of surfers braving the Atlantic’s moods all year round and with Cornwall becoming an internationally established surf destination.

Great British Life: Tolcarne Newquay 1965Tolcarne Newquay 1965 (Image: Archant)

Cornish surfing is steeped in history and everyone who has ever had the privilege of riding a wave on these fine shores will have a story or two to tell. The First Wave aims to deliver this to the public, and maintain the sports rich heritage.

Exhibitions manager and keen Cornish surfer Ben Lumby says: “We are delighted to be supporting the First Wave Project and including their display here at the Maritime Museum. Having spent many happy hours surfing Cornish waves and being involved in the local surf scene, this small display provides a fascinating glimpse into the early years of the sport. We would also like to thank the Museum of British Surfing for lending us a couple of their boards to include in the display.”

The new display at the Maritime Museum features first-hand accounts from the people who were there, showcased alongside a limited selection of historic surfboards from the Museum of British Surfing’s extensive collection.

The exhibition continues until September 15.

thefirstwave.co.uk