Redruth is ready to celebrate its most famous resident, inventor William Murdoch.

Murdoch’s major innovation was the use of coal gas in lighting as a replacement for oil and tallow. The house where Murdoch lived in Redruth was the first house in the UK to be lit by gas lighting in 1792.

Murdoch, although not born in Cornwall, is revered locally as a mechanical genius who improved the efficiency of steam engines in Cornwall’s tin mines.

He also built the first working model of a steam carriage which he demonstrated in and around Redruth in 1784.

Events include a children's dance and art procession, all day music and entertainment., a street market with more than fifty stalls, an old time fair, locally themed exhibitions and a variety of live concerts and other events dotted round the town.

Things kick off from 10am and all of the events are completely free. Organisers say that the day  really gets right to the heart of what the town is all about  – its heritage, history, industry

There will also be a spectacular parade with eleven schools from the area due to take part in the morning procession which winds its way through the town’s streets from 10am. The kids will carry colourful art work they have made including giant ships, butterflies and dragons.

Some of the main streets will be closed to traffic.

Alongside a full line-up of live music at the main stage in Green Lane, the town centre will also host a street market, “Olde Tyme Fair”, steam engines, art installations, exhibitions and community dance groups.

New to this year’s event is the afternoon dance, led by Bev-Lyn School of Dance, taking place at 2.30pm through Fore Street. Unique choreography and music have been written especially for the occasion.

Also making a Murdoch Day debut is: an art exhibition entitled “Gaslighting”, by locally-based CMR Galleries; free Nature Workshops, held by a local organisation of the same name; a darts exhibition with Kevin “The Artist” Painter at St Rumon’s Club; and the new town mascot, “Tolgus the Lamb”, who was first unveiled at the St Piran Festival three months ago. Tolgus will be making an appearance at the Buttermarket, to the rear of Market Way, while community groups will be performing at the front entrance of Market Way.
 

Organisations across the town are holding open days, sales, and activities, including St Andrew’s Church, the Cornwall Centre, the Methodist Church, Murdoch House and the Cornish Global Migration Programme – who will also be displaying the Murdoch Flyer replica engine.
 

Lee Dunkley, Redruth town development manager, said: “Murdoch Day is well-established and interest is always high. This year we’ve added more elements that we think will make the event even more memorable.”
 

Town mayor, Judy Davidson MBE, added: “Murdoch Day is a celebration of Redruth’s heritage and once again this will be a wonderful community day for the town. Each year this day gets bigger and better, reflecting the growing optimism we now have for our future with so many exciting plans for the old Brewery site in the pipeline. We hope everyone will come along join in and have a great time.”
Peter Bennett, town clerk, said: “Murdoch Day 2013 will be a day for the whole town to come together and put on a real show, with lots going on. The committee continue to work hard ensuring that Redruth’s premier event goes from strength to strength”.
 

Full details of the event, including maps and full listings, can be found online at www.visitredruth.co.uk, and on the new free “Visit Redruth” app available on Apple and Android.
Fore Street and Alma Place will be closed to the public between 6pm on Friday and 10pm on Saturday. Flowerpot Chapel car park will be closed to vehicles from 6pm on Thursday until Saturday.

FULL TIMETABLE OF EVENTS.

SCHOOL PARADE

The Murdoch School’s Parade sets off from Trewirgie Junior School at 10am.  The route follows Falmouth Road to West End, up Fore Street, bears right to pass the train station, into Bond Street and turns right into Treruffe Hill and ends at Trewirgie Junior School approximately an hour later.  Eleven local schools take part with children performing the Murdoch Spring Dance as the Illogan Sparnon Silver Band accompany them.
This is followed by processional artwork that the children have helped create on the theme of Festival of Colour interspersed with the playing of the Golowan Band, Haylestorm Samba Band and a joint schools Samba Band.  It promises to be a colourful and lively parade! 

THE MAIN STAGE
Live entertainment all day, with compere Freddy Zapp.  The stage is located in the middle of the town by the Town Clock and iconic Miner Statue. 
Line up on the Main Stage:
11:00am:  “Crystal” Vocalist
12:00pm:  “Charlotte” Vocalist
1:00pm:    Line Dancing
2:00pm:   “Graham Hart” Male Vocalist and Sax
3:00pm:   “Pat Matthews” Elvis Tribute
4:00pm:  “Sugar Bulletts” Rock ‘n’ Roll

COMMUNITY DANCE
NEW TO MURDOCH DAY! An afternoon dance, processing at 2:30pm from the bottom of Fore Street to Flowerpot Chapel car park. Unique music and dance especially scripted for Murdoch Day 2013 by Bev-Lyn School of Dance.  Be sure to get a good viewing point for this new and unique event – a spot by the Tinner’s Hounds, or up near Flowerpot Chapel.

ST RUMON’S CLUB & GARDENS
A full day and evening of entertainment and activities based at St Rumon’s Social Club on Penryn Street (close to the Regal Cinema).  Activities include Giant Space Balls; Children’s Rides; Bouncy Castle; Striker; Rodeo Bull; Face Painting; Ice Cream; Hot Food; Sweet Stall / Hot Doughnuts; Plant Stalls; two bars open all day; large patio area.
Line up on the St Rumon’s Club Stage:
12:00pm: Four Lanes Male Voice Choir Concert (in the Gardens)
1:30pm: The Cornish Wurzells
2:30pm: I.S.K Academy Redruth – Martial arts demonstration
3:00pm: MIDRIFF-Great Rock / Pop Cover Band
5:00pm: RUDIS MESSAGE: BRILLIANT! Local SKA Band
7:00pm till late: Spacetech Disco inside ALL WELCOME
Also 7pm upstairs Pro DARTS Exhibition with PDC Player KEVIN `The Artist` PAINTER: Tickets £6

MARKET WAY PERFORMANCES
Community groups will be performing outside the Market Way entrance, close to the Town Clock.
Line up at Market Way Performance Area: 11:00am: Raise the Ruth – community choir. 12:30pm: 2pm RedYOUth – community dance group.

OLD TYME FAIR
A full range of children’s rides and activities are available at the Old Tyme Fair throughout the day.  Located at Flowerpot Chapel car park, close to the main Post Office on Fore Street.

CORNWALL CENTRE ACTIVITIES
Located on Alma Place, close the Train Station and main bus stops, the Cornish Studies Library at the Cornwall Centre will be open from 10:00am – 4:00pm.  Visit the Library to discover fascinating facts about Cornwall and see the exhibition of photographs covering Cornwall’s Agricultural Past.  Also, drop in for children’s FREE craft sessions all day.

MURDOCH HOUSE EXHBITIONS
The  theme  for  The  Redruth Story  Group  Exhibition  at Murdoch  House  on is  “Visitations  to  Cornwall”.  It  will  be  open  from  10:00am  to 4:00pm and homemade  refreshments  will  be  on  sale  throughout  the  day.  As a precursor to the day, informal  evening entertainment  on  Wednesday, June 12,  will  start  at  7:00pm to 9:00pm.  Light refreshments will be available.

METHODIST CHAPEL OPEN DAY
Located at the top of Fore Street, the Chapel and Vestibule will be open from 10:00am – 4:00pm for sweet and savoury refreshments.  There will also be stalls and games, and you are warmly invited to chat to old friends, and make new ones; come in and look around this wonderful building, or just sit quietly and relax for a while.

“GASLIGHTING” CONTEMPORARY ARTS EXHIBITION
Gaslighting Exhibition: 10:00am – 5:00pm.
Venue 1 - CMR, Royal Circus Buildings, Back Lane West – between Fore Street and Fairmeadow car park.
Venue 2 - Former Arts & Graphics Shop, Fore Street, Redruth, Cornwall (Courtesy P. Williams) – by the Tinner’s Hounds.
An exhibition produced in association with Freedom from Torture, showcasing work by invited international contemporary artists, based both in, & far beyond Cornwall.
CMR, Redruth’s local artist-led gallery and project space will be open to the public on Murdoch Day with Gaslighting – a free exhibition across 2 venues, which is part of a week-long programme of events aiming to raise awareness and create space for discussion about torture and its consequences. Gaslighting refers to a form of psychological manipulation involving the systematic erosion of a victim’s reality.  The term was coined from the famous 1940s play and film ‘Gaslight’, and this exhibition, prompted by the annual celebrations for William Murdoch, who invented piped gaslight, invites the public to reconsider our understandings of torture.
The exhibition will run from June 14 to 21.

NATURE WORKSHOPS
New to Murdoch Day!  Nature as nurture workshops and adventure events.  Aimed and children and families, the team will show how nature improves well being and learning in a fun way.  Look out for them on Fore Street amongst the Street Market and come and explore nature through hands-on learning using various methods.  Completely free of charge.

AND MORE…
In addition to the main events above, make the short walk to St Andrew’s Church (near the public library) which is open from 10am onwards offering a bumper sale of toys, clothing and books, as well as light lunches and refreshments.  Visit the Steam Team in Alma Place and find out more about these impressive engines.  Seek out Redruth Amateur Radio Demonstrations at New Cut car park (to the rear of Wilkinson), and keep your eyes peeled to see if you can spot the new 6ft foot tall mascot, Tolgus the  Lamb.
There will be lots of different refreshments on offer and Redruth has plenty of cafes, bakeries and pubs which will all be open. Transport links are excellent and there is plenty of car parking.

Have a look at 2011's Murdoch Day celebrations to get a taste of the town's big day.