Recycling the River Tees: A River for Recreation

Displayed at Preston Park as part of the Recycling the River Tees Exhibition

The exhibition which explores recreational activity on the river includes stories of river users, alongside items from the museum collection which once belonged to the Tees Rowing Club.

A man with a blue t-shirt saying 'In Open Water, North East Open Water Coaching' is standing with his back to the camera. He is looking at swimmers in open water.

North East Open Water Coach, Matthew Haycroft.

An addition to the exhibition at Preston Park is the recreational stories of the river, for which the museum engaged the following groups:

Tees rowing club
Tees water sports centre
Infinity boat club
Tees Valley Dragons
River Tees Swimmers

The exhibition includes their stories on alongside items from the museum collection which once belonged to the Tees Rowing Club.
The museum also engaged an artist Adele Catchpole who met the rowing group and created artwork inspired by their discussions.

Stories were written by the local river users and then the museum used their words, unedited in the exhibition. Their personal views and experiences of the River Tees can be read by visitors.