By Andrew Clarke

Last updated 16:04, Monday, 23 June 2008

They have been waiting a year – but the people of Whitehaven finally discovered what was “in the box” last Friday.

• View more pictures...

The mystery statue of a a flyfisherman is unloaded

And they were not disappointed with the wait when the surprise gift which has been sitting temptingly on the harbourside after being delivered by a 20-truck convoy of Eddie Stobart lorries.

It was a real show of appreciation with a spectacular boat presented to Whitehaven Sea Cadets as a “thank you” from the Whitehaven International Maritime Committee for the Cadets’ contribution to the town.

The boat came from the large container which has sat on the harbour at the Bulwark Quay since last June 2007 when it was delivered ahead of the maritime festival. Festival committee director Iain Irving said the gift was to thank the Cadets for “always doing the town proud”.

The Cadet Corp had been raising funds for their new vessel themselves for a number of months. But the boat was not the only gift presented by the Maritime Committee last night to mark the 300th anniversary of the Royal Act for Whitehaven Harbour. Following rumours that the main gift was to be a statue, the committee did present a statue, of sorts, to Celia Mackenzie, the chief executive of the Harbour Commission – a real life statue of a freshwater fisherman!

The unveiling of the gift is part of a weekend of festivities taking place in Whitehaven.

Fireworks and a continental market are highlights on the harbourside, and a parade of town criers from all over the country takes to the streets today.

The criers will compete in a competition this afternoon. The winner is due to be announced at The Rum Story this evening.