Vintage Margate seafront telescope on display at hotel
A seafront telescope which is almost 100 years old has become the latest artefact to go on display at a hotel in east Kent. Fred Shelley used his telescope to log ships passing by Margate from the 1930s to the 1960s. It has now gone on show at the Walpole Bay Hotel museum in Cliftonville close to the clifftop spot where it used to stand. Jane Bishop, hotel owner, said she was "honoured" to put the item on display in her reception.
She said: "Fred's relatives came and stayed at the hotel and decided the telescope should form part of the museum's collection of artefacts." Felicity Walker, Mr Shelley's great niece, said: "Fred set up the Walpole Bay Shipping Spotters Club in the 1930s to encourage boys into a seafaring career."He charged holidaymakers a small fee to look at the ships whilst he told them about them.
Ms Walker said: "By looking up Lloyds List every day he would know what ships were going around the foreland."He was able to inform viewers about the country of origin and goods on board."Mr Walker, a trained watch and clock repairer, lived into his 90s.
The telescope is the latest of over 1,000 artefacts placed around the corridors of the free museum.Items on display include old typewriters, vacuum cleaners, clothing and vintage milk bottles. Ms Bishop said: "Our museum is here to preserve the past and allow our visitors to reminisce."It brings back memories of the olden days, but is also a great educational tool for children."
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