Mayflower400 is bringing on stream two new digital series of online programmes in the build-up to the 400 year anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower on 16 September 2020.

‘My Mayflower’ and ‘Virtual Voyages’ will cover different elements of the Mayflower story around personal and destination links into this piece of history.

The My Mayflower series will tell the story through personal accounts and people’s first hand experiences and interests while the second digital series, Virtual Voyages, will showcase the destinations that make up the Mayflower story including points of interest and on-line visits to the places behind the descendant families and their journeys.

The first in the My Mayflower series brings to life the people connected to the remarkable story of Mayflower II from those involved in building the ship after World War 2, to memories of those who sailed it across the Atlantic and thoughts of those recently involved in the Mayflower II restoration, including anecdotes from people involved with the vessel such as Wendy Piper – daughter of Mayflower II Shipbuilder Stuart Upham and Sailor on board the ship – Peter Padfield.

The Mayflower II is a ship that represents far more than an extraordinary crossing of the Atlantic. It symbolises the special relationship between the UK and the United States and was a thank you from one nation to another through – a gift like no other.

The ship left Brixham Harbour in Plymouth, UK, for Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1957. Today the recently restored Mayflower II still epitomises that voyage of hope and endeavour.

Featuring historic on water footage from UK and US destinations, the first in the My Mayflower series will transport viewers on a past and present digital journey across the Atlantic.

Watch the story of the Mayflower II on the Mayflower 400 UK digital channels on Saturday, May 23 at 5pm (UK time) – the first in a series of videos entitled My Mayflower.

Go to http://mayflower400uk.org/my-mayflower or click here for more information and to watch.