A series of experts will be introduced across the four main stages of this challenging project, but here are the key players leading the crew for the all-important dive at the Alderney wreck and restoration work afterwards.
Dr Saul David – Presenter
Regular Timewatch viewers may recognise Dr Saul David for presenting its recent broadcast The Greatest Knight - which charted the career of William Marshall, the undisputed ruler of the medieval melee. Saul has also written extensively on Victorian warfare, and is a regular contributor to TV and radio history programmes. Saul was also recently appointed visiting Professor of Military History at the University of Hull.
Ian is principle conservator at York Archaeological Trust. The trust have done all restoration and conservation work on the Alderney Wreck to date. This time they will be contracted to deconcrete the cannons and the musket recovered from the Alderney wreck, and prepare them for restoration. Ian will direct the deconcretion and x-ray process at the Tower of London.
Mensun Bound is a Triton Senior Research Fellow in Marine Archaeology at Oxford University. He is a leading authority on the Alderney wreck - having co-written the book A Ship Cast Away About Alderney – considered to be the definitive word on the subject. Mensun has over 25 years of experience directing underwater surveys and excavations, including the deepest excavation ever attempted in the South China Sea.
Nick Hall – Keeper of Artillery, Royal Armouries
Nick is a licensed ballistics expert and was for six years the curator of the Armouries at the Tower of London. Nick is responsible for overseeing the replication of the cannon and carriage, as well as carrying out all testing. He will also be across the academics of the mission, evaluating the power and sophistication of Elizabeth's weapons compared to those of her predecessors.
Pim de Rhoodes – Skipper of the Cdt Fourcault
Pim coordinates dives all over the world and as commander the Cdt Fourcault – a 55-metre Belgian vessel, with the latest in magnetometer and side-scan technology – he is largely responsible for the dive crew that will play a leading part in surveying and excavating parts of the Alderney wreck. He first became involved with the wreck site in 2007, and was asked by Mensun Bound to come back in 2008 for this year's attempt to raise more artefacts.
Mike Corfield – Director of Conservation, Alderney Maritime Trust
Mike will direct the restoration of the canon at the York Archaeological Trust. He has a long career in conservation, working in Wiltshire, the National Museum of Wales and for English Heritage, from where he retired as Chief Scientist. He has interests in the preservation of archaeological sites, and has been a member of the Mary Rose Hull Conservation Advisory Panel and is a member of the Newport Medieval Ship Advisory Committee.
Prof David Loades – Director of Historical Research, Alderney Maritime Trust
David is a world authority on the Tudor navy and will lead the way in the search for the true identity of the Alderney Wreck. He has taught at the universities of St Andrews, Durham and Wales at Bangor, where he held the Chair of History until 1996. David is also an Honorary Chair at the University of Sheffield, Consultant Director of the British Academy's John Foxe Project, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and was Visiting Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford up until 1989.
Published: September 2008