Many thanks to the Cothill Trust

for their £5000 donation towards the replica Beagle rebuild. Hopefully many of their young pupils will one day become scientists. Maybe a couple of them will say, 'I got interested in science when I went on that replica Beagle...' We look forward to welcoming pupils form Cothill House aboard, teaching them a bit about Charles Darwin, showing them the ropes, heads ('They went to the toilet like that? Ewww.') and the cannons, maybe taking them out on a day sail.

Having worked in sail training, I'm amazed at how many adults I meet who as teenagers sailed with the Ocean Youth Trust and found their time under sail a life-changing experience.

Downing Street Darwin Day petition: come on, click over and sign up.