2nd World War Torpedo Boat Launch In Bridgwater

28 January 2015, 13:23 | Updated: 29 January 2015, 17:22

On Saturday January 31st a 70ft Second World War Motor Torpedo Boat will travel through Bridgwater on her way to be launched in Bridgwater Docks.

Following just over a year of restoration work, MTB 219, the last one left of her kind and veteran of the "Channel Dash" will be loaded onto the back of a lorry for a 2 mile journey through the town centre to make her way back to the water.

Listen to how she came back to life:

Route:

At 10am 219 will leave Durleigh Displays, Symons Way, on a transporter and turn left onto East Quay.

At the traffic lights by Currys and the Car Wash she will turn right onto The Clink.

She will proceed through the traffic lights, onto Northgate, past the Council Offices, past the Police Station and the back of Angel Place Shopping Centre (Mount Street), continuing past Scott Cinema to the Mecca Bingo roundabout.

At the roundabout she will turn right onto Penel Orlieu. At the traffic lights she will turn right again onto North Street.

At the Maltshovel roundabout she will turn right, onto Victoria Road, which bends off to the left.

As Victoria Road curves back to the right it becomes Kendale Road.

She will then turn right into Coleridge Road. At the roundabout she will then take the second exit (turning left) which is sign posted as "no through road". 

She will then be joined by the Bridgwater Sea Cadet Band who will escort her past the Bowerings Animal Feeds Yard onto the side of Bridgwater Docks. 

(MTB 219 firing torpedoes circa 1945)

At Bowerings Feeds, Provender Mill:

11:15 - 11:30am  ETA for MTB 219, escorted by Sea Cadet Band

11:30 - 12:00pm MTB 219 will be prepared for launch, cava and sparkling water will be distributed.

12:00pm Speech by Bridgwater Mayor, Councillor Steve Austin; speech by PBCC, Toast by Mrs Elsie Carter

12:10pm onwards  MTB 219 craning into the Docks.