Welwyn & Hatfield Review, Thursday May 3, 2001

Maurice's passion is Bounty for museum

By Karen Armstrong

An author fascinated by the Bounty and the mutineers who sailed her to Pitcairn Island has created a unique display unveiled last week at Mill Green Museum.

Maurice Allward, 78, of Chancery Lane Hatfield, has collected Bounty memorabilia for 20 years. He has even created a three-dimensional model of the beach landing on Pitcairn in 1790.

"The model is indended to create in miniature form what must have been one of the most emotional moments in all of Britain's maritime history," says Mr Allward.

"Picture the scene on January 20, 1790, when the mutineers were frantically dismantling the Bounty on the shores of Pitcairn Island before setting it aflame."

The model contains genuine sand, stones, and rocks from the island, donated by Steve Christian, a direct descendant of mutineer-in-charge Fletcher Christian.

Mr Allward also collects wood carvings made by one of the 30 current inhabitants of Pitcairn.

The retired civil aviation engineer said he has been interested in the Bounty since childhood. "When I was a boy I loved any kind of sea story and playing with water and boats."

Pitcairn Island itself will benefit from Mr Allward's expertise as all the royalties from his book 'Pitcairn Island, Refuge of the Bounty Mutineers', published last year, will be donated to the island and distributed by its Mayor.

Mill Green Museum curator, Caroline Rawle said she is delighted with the Bounty exhibit.