Mary Rose
Sue MacGregor goes back to 1982 and the raising of Henry VIII’s tudor warship The Mary Rose from its grave at the bottom of the Solent in Portsmouth harbour.
Just a few months after ships of the Falklands Fleet returned to the same harbour, this pioneering act of marine archaeology had the nation gripped and the raising was broadcast live on the ±«Óătv. What was brought up from the sea-bed was an astonishing array of Tudor artefacts from cutlery and shoes to ropes that still smelt of tar and syringes.
Among the dedicated team that Sue reunites are Maurice Young, who was a member of the original dive time who located her in 1967.
John Adams, another dive team leader, and now a lecturer in Marine Archaeology recalls being paid a pittance to work on the dive.
Margaret Rule was one of the first archaelogists to get involved, and became the project director when the plan to raise the ship was first suggested.
Alex Hildred was similarly enchanted by the experience, “it was an infectious atmosphere, and there was an excitement around the place like no other dive I’ve ever been on”.
The actor Robert Hardy was then a household name for his portrayal of Siegried Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small, but was also a revered authority on the medieval longbow. He quickly became involved preserving the vast majority of the 138 tudor longbows that were discovered.
Producers: Kate Taylor and David Prest
Series Producer: David Prest
The Reunion is a Whistledown Production for ±«Óătv Radio 4
The Reunion - Eight incredible moments from modern history told by the people who were there
What happens when The Reunion brings together people to relive moments of modern history?
A full list of the re-published episodes
To mark the 200th edition of The Reunion, 28 editions have been re-published.
Best of The Reunion
A selection of the best editions of the programme.
