Receiver of Wreck offers unique tales to WI members

By Pam Marsden

MEMBERS FROM Stokes Bay Women’s Institute (WI) were recently treated to a outstanding speech from Veronica Robbins about her extraordinary career as Receiver of Wreck, Maritime & Coastguard Agency; the event being praised by guests who are quoted as saying “What a presentation – we’d go as far as saying it was unique!”

Veronica is one of the group’s members and her role ranged from dealing with beached 80-foot Sperm Whales (usually found dead somewhere ‘inconvenient’) to wrecks containing sunken treasures of gold coins and sapphires. Now retired, she effectively amended the 1894 Merchant Shipping Act in 1995 to be relevant to the modern day.

Veronica introduced the first ever Wreck Amnesty and the British Museum assisted with items recovered. She helped to prosecute those who then took Crown property unlawfully and she was clearly passionate about her role as custodian of maritime heritage.

Maritime archaeology didn’t always have a high profile and she was able to protect many of the artefacts found. One of Veronica’s career highlights was receiving an award from Turkey for the return of seven ancient artefacts dating from circa 2AD, the Castor Marbles, four years after they were discovered in the wreckage of a ship off the coast of Kent.

As President of Stokes Bay WI, Angela MacCallum, says “We heard about a sunken ship (the SS Richard Montgomery still in existence today) containing live unstable ordnance. Another of her fascinating tales covered the SS Politician which ran aground in the Hebrides with a cargo of whisky – with crates still occasionally found on the shore – Veronica didn’t hesitate to recommend prosecution for those who pillage from wrecks.”

Even ‘Fishes Royal’ – stranded whales, porpoises, dolphins (and sturgeon caught in trawls) become the property of the Monarch of the UK and came under Veronica’s responsibility. British archaeologist Dr Margaret Rule, of the Mary Rose Trust, was one of many specialists who advised Veronica in her early days as Receiver of Wreck.

As a result of their shared interest in the protection and conservation of maritime artefacts, simple and accurate reporting procedures were made available for all sea users both amateur and professional. User-friendly, unambiguous literature explained the Laws of Wreck and Salvage and the consequence of not following the Law.

We will now think of Veronica helping to retrieve a stolen cannon from outside a shop – now known in her family as ‘Granny’s Cannon!’ The group are proud of Veronica and wonder which other members of their club will have as fascinating a tale to tell!

PICTURED BY PAM MARSDEN: Photo shows Veronica Robbins during our presentation, which was held recently.