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You’re invited to a picnic!

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Come one, come all!

Scary Little Girls invites you to a celebration picnic, in tribute to the fascinating life of Anna Maria Fox, pioneering thinker and founder of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society.

In celebration of the remarkable life and legacy of Anna Maria Fox, Cornish production hub, Scary Little Girls is inviting all members of the local community to two remarkable picnics in Glendurgan Gardens – where members of the Fox family still live.

Born 200 years ago, Anna Maria was a staunch advocate of Cornish innovation and culture, and co-founded what is now the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, aged just 17.

Held on Sunday 28th August and Sunday 11th September, the anniversary picnics promise to be both entertaining and informative and form part of a programme of events being funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Artistic Director, Rebecca Mordan, explains: “We will be providing food from the local area as well as the places that Anna Maria Fox, who was very well-travelled for the time, visited throughout her life. And we are encouraging guests to bring a sharing plate along if they can so we can all break bread together, something of which we think Anna Maria would have approved!

“Additionally, there will games and quizzes about Anna Maria’s remarkable life and one of our talented actresses will be acting the part of the esteemed female philanthropist, bringing her to life for visitors to interview.”

The picnics are part of a number of celebratory events, exhibitions, and performances being held in and around Falmouth, throughout the year.

Rebecca continues: “The legacy of Anna Maria Fox is all around us in Falmouth, but the woman herself is not as well known. We are working with local organizations to preserve and celebrate her remarkable life.

“Anna Maria’s hopes for the development of science, the arts and culture in Cornwall are, today, realised by our local artists, scientists, and her own family. With these anniversary events, we hope not only to do her memory justice, but also explore how science and art are thriving in new and exciting ways in Cornwall today.

The lack of women in science has been a hot topic the past few years. Anna Maria Fox conceived and co-founded in Falmouth the first British institution to use the name “polytechnic”  – The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society – now affectionately called “The Poly”.  Such an inspirational figure for our young scientists and entrepreneurs deserves to be celebrated.”

Picnics take place on Sunday 28th August and Sunday 11th September, in Glendurgan Gardens, from 2.30pm until 4.00pm.

To book a place at a picnic please email [email protected].

For information on other Anna Maria Fox events happening in 2016, keep an eye on the SLG website: http://www.scarylittlegirls.co.uk/anna-maria-fox-birthday-year/ 

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