This event will include an in-depth look at the story of the Special Operations Executive base at Helford and an opportunity to investigate the Museum’s reconstruction of an SOE boat.
In this extended lecture, National Maritime Museum Cornwall Boat Collection Manager Bob White, and former Museum director Jonathan Griffin, will explore the creation of the SOE (Special Operations Executive) base at Helford and its role in undertaking clandestine sea-borne operations to Brittany.
Doors open at 7pm, with drinks available from our Waterside Cafe.
Lecture starts at 7.30pm, expected finish after Q&A 9.30pm.
Standard Talk Ticket £8
Student Talk Ticket £5
Members Talk Ticket £7.20
Online Talk Ticket £6
Book to attend in-person Book to watch online
National Maritime Museum Cornwall’s Members receive a 10% discount on tickets for in-person lectures at the Museum. Find out more about Membership.
Bob White is the Boat Collection Manager at National Maritime Museum Cornwall, with overall responsibility for the curation, maintenance and display of the National Small Boat Collection. He is currently supporting a team of volunteers building a replica WW2 SOE surf boat in the museum’s on-site workshop.
Jonathan Griffin previously worked at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and is now a volunteer archivist. He has been the lead researcher on the history of the Helford Base during WW2, building in work by former National Maritime Museum Cornwall Trustee, Tony Pawlyn.
World War II and the Story of Cornwall’s Covert Special Operation with Robert White and Jonathan Griffin is part of National Maritime Museum Cornwall’s 2026 Autumn Lecture Series ‘Cornwall At War’.
Other lectures in this series include:
National Maritime
Museum Cornwall Trust
Discovery Quay
Falmouth Cornwall
TR11 3QY
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Email: enquiries@nmmc.co.uk
