The Historic Dockyard Chatham trains resident seagull to deliver wedding rings
The Historic Dockyard Chatham trains resident seagull to deliver wedding rings
Ahead of the anticipated reopening of The Commissioner’s House at The Historic Dockyard Chatham this summer, the events team has unveiled a new addition to its wedding offering in the form of a specially trained seagull to deliver wedding rings during ceremonies.
Named Admiral Gulliver, the ambitious new recruit has been undergoing intensive training within the Dockyard grounds, learning how to act as a ceremonial ring bearer during outdoor weddings held in the gardens of the historic Georgian residence.
The initiative comes as The Historic Dockyard prepares to welcome guests to the newly restored Commissioner’s House following a £3.5 million refurbishment that has transformed the grand mansion into an elegant venue for weddings, celebrations and private events.
Visitors may have already spotted the seagull undertaking practice flights across the Dockyard’s grounds as he familiarises himself with key wedding locations on the site. According to the Dockyard’s events team, Admiral Gulliver was selected for his “excellent wingspan, strong navigational instincts and undeniable stage presence”.
His rigorous training programme includes precision landing techniques, advanced ring pillow identification and a strict ‘ignore the canapés’ protocol, with particular emphasis on developing the discipline to resist any tasty fish and chips in the nearby vicinity, though this remains work in progress.
