Acting US Ambassador visits Plymouth

The United States Acting Ambassador to the UK visited Plymouth March 21 and 22 to experience the many connections between Plymouth and the United States from the Mayflower to the present.

Lewis Lukens said: “It was a privilege to be in the city of Plymouth surrounded by the hospitality of its people and its historic connections to the United States.”

As preparations continue to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage Mr Lukens was in town to renew connections with U.S. exchange alumni, learn more about U.S./UK Naval cooperation, and to visit several Mayflower 400 anniversary related sites.

Mr Lukens visited the home of the Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS) project at the Estover factory and met with MSubs engineers who are working on plans for the MAS science vessel scheduled to take its maiden voyage across the Atlantic in 2020. The vessel will carry out scientific experiments in oceans around the world.

He also visited the Saltash War Memorial, took a tour of the naval base, and stopped by the Mayflower Museum.

Mr Lukens finished his day with a meeting with alumni of U.S. Government funded programs and members of the embassy’s Young Leaders UK program; as well as a visit to the Royal Citadel and a tour of the Barbican with the chairman of the Plymouth Mayflower celebrations Adrian Vinken, OBE.

Mr Vinken said: “Our American partners are as committed as we are to making this a major international celebration and it’s great that the Acting Ambassador is taking time to see for himself the work that’s already going on behind the scenes.

“Mayflower 400 is a unique opportunity for Plymouth to show the world what it can offer, from its cultural vitality and stunning Waterfront to its unique maritime history.

“Hundreds of people are involved in making the Mayflower 400 celebrations a success and today’s visit by the Ambassador takes us one more step towards one of the most exciting events in the city’s history.” 

Plans for the commemoration in Plymouth also include the development of the new history centre, renovations to historic city buildings including the Elizabethan House, a monument and three new heritage trails.

Plymouth has been working with an international partnership, including ten English locations, Plymouth Massachusetts and Leiden, Holland to develop the 2020 commemoration plans and events which it is hoped will attract thousands of people to the city and Mayflower partner locations, in commemoration of one of the most enduring tales in history.