The Friends of Purton celebrated the impromptu visit to Gloucestershire’s now famous Purton Hulks by the current Minister for Culture, Media and Sport Margaret Hodge MBE, who took time out from her very busy schedule to view, first hand, the largest ships’ graveyard in mainland Britain.

The Minster was greeted by friend and colleague David Drew MP Stroud. The party, consisting of Janet Presley, Vice Chairman, Friends of Purton, Martyn Heighton Director of the Historic Ships Committee, Laurie Coleman Head of Archaeology, Friends of Purton, Stuart Bryan of the Advisory Committee for Historic Wreck Sites and broadcaster Professor Mark Horton of Bristol University set off to inspect the site.

During the whistle stop tour, Mrs Hodge eagerly took in the site’s many rare artefacts and was said to be breath taken with the tranquillity of the location and its idyllic setting alongside the meandering waters of the river Severn.

Paul Barnett, chairman of the Friends of Purton, who was on hand to both guide the Minister whilst highlighting the archaeological significance, has praised the visit ‘as a real development in the in the plight to protect this unique collection for the nation’. Further he stated, ‘Mrs Hodge was both engaging and most enthusiastic, whilst pledging to conduct a full ministerial review in light of her fact-finding visit’.

During her visit, the Friends presented the Minister with a 2600 signature petition calling for greater legal protection and a copy of a five year management plan that will ensure continued recording, documentation and dissemination of the site’s archaeology.

Following the visit David Drew stated, ‘I was immensely please to invite Margaret to visit the site and can report that she was very impressed by what she saw and is keen to take the matter forward with English Heritage.’ For further details www.friendsofpurton.org.uk Finally elated local Maritime Historian and Chairman of the Friends, Paul Barnett added, ‘This is a great day for the Purton Hulks, a great day for Gloucestershire, it has been an epic journey in the fight to secure protection of this, the nation’s foreshore Archaeology flagship.’ For further information visit www.friendsofpurton.org.uk