HELSTON Museum has received a national award for its excellence in heritage education.

The Sanford Award was given to the museum after judging took place on May 20. It serves as a mark of “high quality education provision,” according to the official award website.

At the time of being judged, the museum was visited by a group of infants from Nansloe Academy. The children were being taught about local inventor Henry Trengrouse, who designed the ‘Rocket’ lifesaving device, a line and buoy system used at sea, in the early 19th century. An example of his work is on display at the museum.

The judge, Robin Clutterbuck, said: “Palpably, the children were learning in front of my eyes. The relevance of the session was exceptional: not only is the Lizard Peninsula the site of many shipwrecks, but it is still a dangerous coastline, with search and rescue helicopter services running from nearby RNAS Culdrose - some of the children’s parents worked there.”

“Furthermore, the children’s own experience of playing on local beaches made the lifesaving issues very familiar. The session could not better have brought together local heritage, national history and personal meanings. The fact that a local man invented a way of saving people from drowning made this museum visit an essential part of the children’s education, in my view.”

Staff at Helston Museum were delighted. Tracey Clowes, assistant curator and head of education, said: “We were absolutely thrilled to have been given this prestigious award and it is a testament of the hard work of our wonderful volunteers and staff.”