Two guests from America brought a very special present to a birthday party with a difference on Saturday.
The John Paul Jones Birthplace Museum at Arbigland, near Kirkbean, held a celebration to mark the 275th anniversary of the birth of the man seen as the “father of the US Navy”.
Among those in attendance was trustee Jim Poole, a retired US Navy Commander and a John Paul Jones enthusiast, and fellow American James Bliss.
And they presented John Paul Jones trust chairman, Alf Hannay, with a piece of wood believed to be from the wreck of Jones’ Boat, Bonhomme Richard.
The pair had discovered the wood on the shore at Filey Bay on the east coast of England. In 1779, Jones led the American Navy into battle against the British Navy at the Battle of Flamborough Head in the waters of Filey Bay.
The bay is the final resting place of Bonhomme Richard and Jim and James believe the wood came from the French-built boat as it has green copper marks on it and the French were the only boat builders using copper at the time.
Saturday’s celebrations also featured music, games, a barbecue and a bouncy castle.
Manager, Kate Reczko, said: “It was absolutely amazing day. We had a good turnout of between 100 and 150 people.”
