THE MARY ROSE TRUST Annual Review 2015 2 The Mary Rose Trust Annual Review 2015 3 Foreword John Lippiett, Chief Executive Mary Rose Trust Like any good thriller (witness as example the Shardlake Conservation and research remain core activities of the novels of Henry VIII’s turbulent reign by C J Sansom), as the Trust and there remains a great deal of exciting work yet Mary Rose Trust comes towards the end of one sensational to be completed. chapter, we look ahead with eager anticipation to the next. I remain indebted to everyone who works so well as a team Building on the successes of the first year of operating the to make all these things happen with such success. We have new museum, we have continued making a number of small a strong Board of Trustees which has been closely engaged but significant improvements to both the operation and in the strategic development of the Trust’s activities, and an interpretation aspects. Visitor feedback is exceptionally exceptional team of staff and volunteers which acts as one encouraging, as are the numbers arriving at Portsmouth to deliver a joined up operation of the highest standards. Historic Dockyard - now at record figures which stand to go Professionalism and passion are the words that best describe on rising as the whole site continues to improve. Our recent what drives them. It is a winning team and I congratulate nomination for the European Museum of the Year 2015 Award and thank every individual. resulted in their Special Commendation, being pipped to the Michael Aiken stands down this summer having been post by the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands. Chairman of the Trust for over eight years. He has played So it comes as a surprise to most people when they hear that a pivotal role in leading the Trustee Board and the Trust we will be closing the exhibition later this year for some eight through the development and opening of the new museum. months. This is in order to take the museum through to the His significant personal support for the project came final design, where the “Hot Box” is removed together with all at a critical time in the museum’s development when funds the black tubing drying equipment within it. When we reopen, were crucial if the project was not to be delayed. Through his the sight of the hull, seen from virtually every angle and level, philanthropic giving he created momentum for others to help. will be sensational. Other improvements to the interpretation The Trust owes Michael a debt of gratitude for all that has are in hand, so we can promise our visitors stunning new been achieved through his chairmanship, and the creation experiences on their return. of the museum and the successes won in the first two years of its operation are a testament to his leadership. In parallel to all this activity, our highly innovative learning and outreach programmes continue to inspire both young and old – of all abilities – by using our collection to bring history alive, to reveal unexpected things, to excite, and to have fun. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Learning Centre has proved its great value and will continue to operate through the period of closure, as will the shop and café in the Entrance Pavilion. HRH Prince of Wales with Michael Aiken 4 The Mary Rose Trust Dr Margaret Rule CBE (1928 - 2015) By 1978 the initial excavation work had uncovered an intact ship structure. However, a full excavation also meant removing the protective layers of silt that prevented the remaining timbers from being destroyed, an expensive operation that would have to be completed within a short timescale. The decision was made to raise the ship and in 1979 the Mary Rose Trust was formed, under the presidency of the HRH The Prince of Wales, to provide the funding for a full-time salvage operation, with Margaret Rule as its chief archaeologist. Between 1979 and 1982 Margaret Rule and the team made an estimated 26,640 dives. Over 19,000 artefacts were recovered over the years, leading to the eventual raising of the ship on 11 October 1982. The project remains to this day the world’s largest underwater excavation and recovery and is a testament to the hard work and dedication In April we were deeply saddened by the death of Margaret of Margaret and the team. Rule. For 50 years, her name has been synonymous with the Mary Rose project. Margaret was an inspiration to everyone involved both then and ever since. She was the public face of the project, Margaret Rule, an experienced land archaeologist, was and successfully managed not only the archaeology but also invited by Alexander McKee to join the team in 1965. Her role the vital support and funding. was fundamental to the success of the excavation and recovery of the ship. To begin with she wondered whether The new museum was the fulfilment of her ambition and many the professional standards of land archaeology could be others going back some 50 years. The Mary Rose is very maintained under the sea. “But I learnt you work underwater much her legacy to the nation. with the same care and ingenuity as you do for a land dig. There you put your site to bed; you put a tarpaulin over your work... You do the same underwater. You don’t leave your site open to be disturbed by currents”. Annual Review 2015 5 6 The Mary Rose Trust Museum Review Yet again we have had an exciting and inspiring year at the Service, showcased by the ‘Game Makers’ at the 2012 Mary Rose Museum. Before we go on to look at the detail Olympic Games in London. Since launching this programme of this, it is important to thank our team of enthusiastic and early in the year we have so far trained over 85% of our front dedicated staff and volunteers who are largely responsible of house staff and volunteers. We are the first recognised for the successes we have had this year, and indeed since World Host organisation in Hampshire and one of the first the new museum was opened. Museums in England to achieve this status. Visitor numbers continue to be high and above pre-opening As the world becomes more digital we continue to lead the predictions; in the last 12 months we have welcomed 400,000 way for museums in this area. Our Facebook and Twitter guests and at the time of writing we have received 890,000 feeds are followed by over 20,000 people, and key staff guests since opening. members now have Twitter feeds to talk about their work at the museum. In 2014 we formed the Digital Content Our museum and work continues to be recognised for awards Creation Team to utilise the skills of our team to develop in all areas. In 2014 alone we received 20 awards ranging new digital projects and content for our social media channels from those for the building, architecture and installation, and website. We have seen many key initiatives from this to customer service and visitor experience in the museum approach; not least the revamp of the on-line shop. and tourism sector. The highlights this last year included the ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’ Award for South East We have continued to develop current, and to build up England, and the commendation received at the European new partnerships over the past year. We have an ongoing Museum of the Year Awards. partnership with Southampton Solent University in a number of areas and we have built our links with the Hampshire We have continued to invest in the development of our Chamber of Commerce. We greatly value our continued amazing team of staff and volunteers. Throughout the year relationship with the Hampshire Solent Museum Development we have expanded our lecture programme to enhance the Team on funding and project work, and this has included knowledge of the team about the collection and other related funding towards our exciting Peer Development and Review subjects. By focusing on the development of our staff we programme with the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. We have have been able to give staff ‘champion areas’ to improve key also developed links with the British Museum, being one business aspects, promote innovation and also assist with of 5 museums selected to take part in their funded Knowledge their continued professional development. Champion areas Exchange programme. include retail, health and safety and our on-line shop. Although customer service standards have always been high at the Mary Rose Museum - a fact proven by our consistently high scores on our weekly satisfaction reports and Trip Advisor - in 2015 we have invested in World Host Training. This is recognised as the industry gold standard in Customer Annual Review 2015 7 © The Portsmouth Grammar School 8 The Mary Rose Trust Mary Rose Learning Department Education has been at the heart of the Trust since its Outcomes include return visits by groups to the museum inception in 1979 with formal and informal teaching and and individuals joining the volunteer force. Our pioneering learning for all ages and abilities. The Learning team aspires work has featured in the Museums Journal, Primary Teacher to be a national centre of excellence for museum education. and The Educational Supplement. This interaction with a wide variety of groups informs our access strategy and contributes We deliver a teaching programme for children and young to training for staff and volunteers. Adult and family learning people aged 5–18 in the Stavros Niarchos Foundation takes place in the Learning Centre and at other venues, Learning Centre.