Cork life jacket nominated for Object of the Year

A 27ft (8.2m) long bus called Poppy and a 200-year-old life jacket made from cork are just two items among the nominations for Cornwall's 2025 Object of the Year Award.

Six historic treasures from museums, galleries and historic properties have been nominated.

The winner is decided by a public vote and other items also include a reel that helped prevent drownings across Devon and Cornwall and a shepherd's lantern belonging to Cornish poet Rev RS Hawker.

Organisers said voting would close at 12:00 GMT on Monday 10 February and the winner would be announced at the Cornwall Heritage Awards ceremony on Monday 17 March.

Councillor Carol Mould said: "These awards are all about celebrating Cornwall's museums, which play such an important role in preserving our culture and heritage.

"Cornish people have always been innovative, creative and resourceful, and these fabulous objects certainly reflect that.

She added that people taking part in the vote would help "continue to support our museums which help keep our history alive."

The six nominated items are:

In 1807, Henry Trengrouse witnessed the wreck of the HMS Anson and the loss of more than 100 lives at Loe Bar.

He immediately drew on his skills as a cabinet maker and designed the device.

The jacket is now housed at the Museum of Cornish Life.

The Jane Slade by Reuben Chappell from National Maritime Museum Cornwall is also in the running.

The artwork has been described as a "masterpiece capturing Cornwall's maritime spirit" by a Cornwall Council spokesperson.

It would go on to inspire Daphne Du Maurier's first novel, the Loving Spirit, weaving together art, entrepreneurship, and the creative essence of Cornish maritime life.

This crafted tin epergne, made from Cornish tin, was presented to the Robartes family of Lanhydrock in 1869 by the miners of Redruth to thank them for establishing and supporting the Miners' Infirmary.

It is now kept on display by the National Trust at Lanhydrock.

Poppy, a mobile telegraph office, revolutionised communication at major sporting events in the 1950s.

Originally used by the General Post Office, it now serves as a unique part of PK Porthcurno's outreach programme.

It is housed at the PK Porthcurno Museum of Global Communications.

The Prototype Hicks Reel Beach Life Saving Equipment was designed by Cyril Hicks in St Agnes in 1959.

The life-saving reel was designed to be portable, with 250m (820ft) of line, to be used on unpatrolled beaches.

Careful instructions and diagrams were provided inside the lid to allow it to be used safely by the public.

Finally, the sixth item up for a nomination is a shepherd's lantern belonging to Cornish poet Reverand RS Hawker.

He was a poet who penned The Song of the Western Men, otherwise known as Cornish anthem Trelawny.

He was the vicar for the parish of Morwenstow, where he lived at the vicarage.

The lantern is now kept at the Castle in Bude.

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