A festival commemorating the birth of one of Norfolk's most famous seafarers has sailed into stormy waters in the Canadian city named after him.King's Lynn is staging a four-day festival later this month to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Captain George Vancouver, on June 22, 1757.
A festival commemorating the birth of one of Norfolk's most famous seafarers has sailed into stormy waters in the Canadian city named after him.
King's Lynn is staging a four-day festival later this month to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Captain George Vancouver, on June 22, 1757.
Vancouver city councillor Elizabeth Ball has accepted an invitation from West Norfolk council - which is organising the event - to attend.
But council-tax campaigners in her home city have branded the visit a waste of money after Mrs Ball's council put up taxes by eight per cent.
Maureen Bader, from the Canadian Taxpayers Feder-ation, told local newspaper the Westender: "It's unclear how a municipal politician's attend-ance at the party of George Vancouver, in England, in a town no one has ever heard of, could be of benefit to the taxpayers of Vancouver."
The CTF estimates the trip will cost the two million citizens of Canada's third-largest city £2,000.
Last night Nick Daubney, leader of West Norfolk council, said: "It went through the Vancouver council and was greeted with considerable enthusiasm to my knowledge.
"We were delighted that a senior councillor accepted. It will raise the profile of King's Lynn and build on our heritage.
"A lot of people in Vancouver probably are unaware of the history of Vancouver. Surely part of the celebration we are having is to promote knowledge of that, so it's beneficial to both places to build on that," he said.
The festival begins on Boal Quay, on the morning of Thursday June 21. Tall ship the Earl of Pembroke will sail up the Ouse to the quay, where it will be moored for the weekend.
Three Canadian women are among the crew which will sail her around the coast from her home port of Fowey, Cornwall.
It will be followed by three days of dining, music, drama and themed events around the waterfront.
For further information, go to www.vancouver250.com
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