ASTOUNDED is the only way to describe Su Anderson’s reaction when she was sent to photograph a team of boat builders recreating a piece of Essex history.

East Anglian Daily Times: Managing Director for the Harwich Mayflower Project Andy Marsh examines the wood that will be used to build the new Mayflower ship.Managing Director for the Harwich Mayflower Project Andy Marsh examines the wood that will be used to build the new Mayflower ship. (Image: Archant)

Campaigners at the Harwich Mayflower Project have launched a £2.5million plan to build a life-size replica of the boat and sail it across the Atlantic ahead of the 400th anniversary of the pilgrims setting out from Plymouth.

Su, who is originally from America, said: “This assignment blew my mind. The story of the Mayflower pilgrims is ingrained in American society and we are taught from a very early age about the ship sailing from Plymouth to what is now Massachusetts and naming the spot they landed Plymouth Rock.

“Knowing now that the ship originated in Harwich and that a lot of the pilgrims were from where I now live in Essex is pretty astounding for me.”

She continued: “In this photograph Managing Director for the Harwich Mayflower Project Andy Marsh examines the wood that will be used to build the new Mayflower ship.”

• Tip - I was under time constraint when photographing this assignment and I didn’t get to spend as much time as I would have liked shooting, but I made sure to get the shots I needed most first and then caught a couple more before leaving - see gallery top right

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