THE sad saga of King Henry Vlll’s favourite warship, the Mary Rose, was outlined to an audience of over 70 at Bishopsteignton.

They were hearing from one of the country’s leading experts on the sinking and the eventual raising of the vessel, Dr Peter Marsden, who lives in the village.

He gave a fascinating talk at the first Molly Coombe Memorial Lecture at the Cockhaven Arms, and outlined the ship’s connections with the south west, her sinking, the skeletons and artefacts found, and her new museum home in Portsmouth.

The talk was organised by the Bishopsteignton Museum Trust, and the introduction was given by the chairman, Dr alun Williams, who briefly outlined the direction that the trust was taking in telling the story of Bishopsteignton through projects, talks, exhibitions, publications research, and interpretive boards.    He described Dr Marsden’s talk as an impressive watershed for the trust.

By popular request, Dr Marsden will also give the next talk, Cesspits Sewers and Cemeteries, in October about some of the more interesting, but less attractive places he has excavated.   Full details will be given at a later date.