The town’s links with composer Sir Arthur Sullivan will be told in a new book which has been written with help from the Brightlingsea Museum.

Herbert Sullivan lived in Brightlingsea’s Manor House – where the Manor Estate is now – and was the nephew of the Sir Arthur, whose partnership with W.S Gilbert resulted in a string of popular operettas.

Manchester author Elaine Richardson spent many hours in the museum researching Herbert, who lived at the Manor from 1903 – 1921.  He extended the house, including the addition of a music room which, it’s believed, housed Sir Arthur’s piano. 

Herbert was the Deputy of the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea in 1910, and was a member of the regatta committee. 

One of the few surviving photographs of Herbert was found in the museum’s collection, and features on the cover of the book, “The Untold Story of Herbert Sullivan” and the author will be at the Station Road museum from 11am on Saturday, June 10 to talk to visitors. Refreshments will be available in the museum garden from 2.30pm.

The museum staff are also hoping to hear from people with memories of the Manor House, which was demolished around 1967. There’ll be a display of pictures of the house, including some taken by Australian Royal Engineers in WWI, when it was an officers’ mess, and some from WWII when it was used as part of the town’s HMS Nemo naval base.