Society honours MaryRose diver with plaque
It was unveiled at the Portchester home of Edward John Towse, who died last year.
He helped pinpoint the location of the famous warship in 1965, alongside fellow diver, Alexander McKee who died in 1992.
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Hide AdThe Portchester Society is behind the plaque and its vice-president Sir Michael Moore, led the unveiling ceremony.
He said: ‘John was one of the key divers in relocating the Mary Rose and was a diver of national repute.’
He added: ‘He played a full part in village life here. He was a great and humble man who played his part to the full.’
Mr Towse’s family and friends were in attendance alongside the local community. His nephew David Wells unveiled the plaque at the lifelong Portchester home of Mr Towse.
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Hide AdChristopher Dobbs, head of interpretation at the Mary Rose Trust and part of the team which helped with the excavation in 1982 said: ‘John was a key figure in the search for the Mary Rose.
‘We are immensely proud that one of the Mary Rose divers has been honoured in this way.’
Dr John Bevan, chairman of the Historical Diving Society worked alongside Mr Towse’s in recent years and was in attendance at the ceremony.
He said: ‘John was quiet guy and he didn’t boast about what he did. You had to know him quite well in order to realise his achievements.’
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Hide Ad‘He was a very enthusiastic diver who led many expeditions and projects and was one of the founding members of the local sub-aqua club in Southsea and that became one of the biggest and most successful diving clubs in the country.’
Mr Bevan’s widow Ann added: ‘He was so modest, he was the world’s most modest man.’
She added: ‘He did the research and very accurately located the position where the wreck was eventually found and that was down to John himself and that is an amazing achievement and Alexander McKee would have never have found it if it wasn’t for John’s assistance.’