Isle of Wight Maritime History – Cowes Rigging & Archival Footage Featuring Harry Spencer - May 1982

Archival footage of legendary yacht rigger Harry Spencer of Cowes, Isle of Wight, BBC South local programme, May 19th, 1982. This video relates to Harry Spencer of Cowes, Isle of Wight, and his long-standing involvement in the town’s maritime and yachting industry. Harry was a respected yacht rigger based in Cowes, closely associated with rigging work, marine engineering, and the wider Solent sailing community. Much of his working life was centred around Cowes Harbour and Thetis Wharf, where he was involved in the handling, fitting, and maintenance of rigging for a wide range of sailing vessels, from classic yachts to racing boats. Cowes itself has a deep-rooted sailing heritage, and figures like Harry played an important role in supporting the working waterfront and the development of yacht rigging and marine services during the 20th century. Due to his experience in heavy lifting and specialist rigging, Harry was also among those involved in the 1980s recovery of the Victorian guns from The Needles Old Battery, where lifting frames and rigging systems were required to raise the 12-ton guns that had been thrown over the cliffs in 1902. Original recording made and donated by Alan Stroud. Technical work by Steve for Restore The Story CIC, helping preserve and share local history and archive films for future generations. If you have any historic footage or photographs from the Isle of Wight and would like us to preserve and share them, please get in touch. Visit our website for more information, local history projects and heritage collections: www.restorecic.org #HarrySpencer #Cowes #IsleOfWight #YachtRigging #MaritimeHistory #ArchiveFootage