Features

He may not have worn a big brown hat or carried a whip...but Torquay-born explorer Percy Harrison Fawcett was a real-life Indiana Jones.

In fact, it's thought he was the inspiration behind the movie character made famous by actor Harrison Ford.

Fawcett - or Lieutenant Colonel Fawcett to give him his full title - was born in Torquay in 1867 and went missing in South America in 1925, while on a quest to find the hidden city known as 'Z.'

He is one of several daring explorers who were born or lived in Torquay during the golden age of exploration.

Torquay Museum has, for the first time, brought together texts written by or about these explorers, along with artefacts they brought back from their travels, in a new explorers gallery.

"They'll be on permanent display in the new explorers gallery."

Christine says people are amazed when they find out about Torquay's adventurous sons.

"That's the real eye-opener. People don't realise Torquay has been home to these famous explorers."

Some artefacts from Fawcett's travels will be on show, but his section is largely based around the stories he wrote of his explorations.

Among the items are a travelling trunk, a 1920 expedition diary, school cap, medals, despatches - and even his front dentures.

Fawcett spent many years surveying previously unchartered territory in South America, and became obsessed with the quest for a supposedly hidden city. He never returned from his final expedition, and no-one really knows what happened to him.

He was knighted for his expeditions of Africa and the Middle East. During his search for the source of the Nile, he discovered Lake Tanganyika.

Like Fawcett, he appeared to relish danger. He would often enter dangerous territory and was scarred for life when he was struck in the face by a spear on one of his expeditions.

Frank Browning lived in Torquay for most of his life. He was the cook on one of Captain Scott's expeditions to Antarctica.

The six man expedition carried out scientific work but their ship, Terra Nova, could not get back to them because it became stuck in ice.

They carved out an ice cave and survived the winter on porridge and penguin steaks.

His achievements are also recognised in the explorers gallery, with a display including crockery from the Terra Nova, postcards, skis, map, and a lecture programme signed by Captain Scott.

Other artefacts in the gallery include items looted during the Opium Wars with China, brought back Dr Charles Paget-Blake, who lived in Torquay.

Then there are a number of items from Egypt - including a mummy containing the body of a young boy.

It's hoped the exhibits will capture the imagination of children, in particular. There is a crawl tunnel, explorers game and the Harrison Trail, where youngsters must discover the combination to open a treasure chest and claim a reward.

The timing of the opening couldn't be better, with a brand new Indiana Jones movie - the first since 1989 - set for release by Lucasfilm Ltd.

The explorers gallery opens to the public on 28 July 2007. The museum can be contacted on 01803 293975.