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Cowes Harbour Commission celebrates its 125th anniversary

Cowes harbour and breakwater. Picture by Cowes Harbour Commission. <i>(Image: Cowes Harbour Commission.)</i>
Cowes harbour and breakwater. Picture by Cowes Harbour Commission. (Image: Cowes Harbour Commission.)

COWES Harbour Commission (CHC) is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a range of initiatives for young people.

Yesterday (Wednesday) marked the 125th anniversary of the first official meeting of the Cowes Harbour Commission Board.

Over the next 12 months, CHC will be celebrating this milestone by looking to the future of the harbour.

The board is launching marine employment initiatives for young people, and a schools’ art competition to imagine what the harbour will look like in the future.

“In conjunction with UKSA, we will be offering residents of East and West Cowes aged 15 to 19 and in financial need, the opportunity to apply for a number of bursaries for UKSA courses to see if a career in marine employment is for them,” said a spokesperson for the CHC.

“We will also be offering a new workboat apprenticeship scheme as an ongoing initiative, offering a new working apprenticeship supported by UKSA, enabling the successful applicant to work with us here at Cowes Harbour whilst becoming a fully qualified workboat handler.

“To celebrate the history and the future of Cowes Harbour, there will be a display in the harbour office depicting images and stories from the time around 1897 when the first board was formed, plus the launch of an Island schools’ art competition for 10 to 19-year-olds – to show their vision for the harbour of the future.

“The winning designs will be made into a large display in the harbour office for the rest of the anniversary year, and design-led prizes will be awarded to the winners.”