A sight never to be seen again… RML (Rescue Motor Launch) 497 in her natural home, the sea… or at least on a gateway to the wide ocean, the Itchen at Southampton, where the river opens out into Southampton Water. She’s under tow on the first stage of her final voyage, which will see the Fairmile taken to the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Hartlepool to develop what the museum has to offer, enabling them to tell the story of the RN in the second world war through the history of coastal forces. This will add to their present offer, the history of the 18th and 19th century navy – told through their heritage ship HMS Trincomalee – a superbly preserved frigate, launched in India in 1817, with 60% of her original timbers still intact. A new beginning for both the museum and 497.
FINAL VOYAGE
31 May 2019
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About Rob
Rob is a TV producer, reporter and camera operator with 30 years’ experience at the BBC, Channel 4 and ITN, in news, factual and documentary production. He is a four times award winner, whose awards include a coveted Royal Television Society award for his work on Channel 4 News. His association with The Maritime Foundation goes back to 1995, when he won the first Desmond Wettern Maritime Media Award for a series of reports that led to a major documentary on the loss of the bulk carrier Derbyshire.