As part of the Uffa Fox 50 (UF50) festival this weekend, Cowes Heritage and Community Group (CHCG) is one of six Cowes and two East Cowes groups who will open their doors to the public between today (Thursday) and Sunday, to form a trail to commemorate the life of Uffa Fox, who died 50 years ago. 

While Uffa was mainly recognised as an award-winning sailor and groundbreaking yacht designer, receiving a CBE and becoming an RDI (Royal Designer in Industry), he also became a celebrity in his lifetime. 

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He was famous for his antics and sense of humour, culminating in an appearance on the television show, This Is Your Life.

He was also heavily involved in the local sea scouts and trying to get young people more connected with the sea.

The Cowes Heritage and Community Group, based at the Beckford Centre opposite Cowes Library, will focus on Uffa Fox’s scouting days with an exhibition featuring his exploits in his teenage years and subsequently as a scout leader. 

It will also feature an account, transcribed from Uffa's own handwriting, of his infamous boat trip up the River Seine in Paris with a group of scouts which made headlines in the national press. 

Also on display will be the original flag from the 1st Cowes Troop (Viscountess Gort’s Own) dating back to June 6, 1913, the year that sea scouting began.

The Beckford Centre — at 5 Beckford Road, Cowes — will be open from 10am to 4pm on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For more information about the UF50 festival, which celebrates the life of Uffa Fox, see the website at: uf50.org

Like reading stories about the Isle of Wight and its characters in bygone times? Click here to visit our Looking Back section for more interesting tales!