Dr Lesley Runnalls, who worked as senior cabin crew on Concorde, would often find herself exploring nearly 450-year-old artefacts submerged in the Solent, between flights. Her fascination with the underwater world led her to become part of the archaeological team that excavated and raised Henry VIII’s famed Tudor flagship, the Mary Rose, during the 1970s and 1980s. Dr Runnalls, who now resides near Reading, was one of a select group of divers who witnessed the legendary ship’s journey from the seabed to the museum, participating in one of the most ambitious maritime archaeological projects ever recorded.
It was the first underwater broadcast on the BBC and remains the world’s largest underwater excavation and raising undertaken to date. Dr Runnalls recalls her time working on the ship’s main deck, balancing on a scaffold pole to excavate the Barber Surgeon’s Cabin, and discovering a wooden turned jar and carved ear spoon. The jar had a fingerprint inside from the last person who used it, a testament to the ship's rich history.
Dr Runnalls’ allure to the underwater world began while she was working for British Airways, where her husband, Ian, was a captain. Dr Runnalls would return from supersonic luxury air travel on Concorde to dive into the depths of the Solent. The 450-year-old artefacts were remnants of the Mary Rose, which sank in 1545 during a naval battle.
Dr Runnalls was involved in the Mary Rose Trust’s return to the wreck site in the Solent for further.
