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I'm a Londoner born and bred.
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Three generations of my family
have lived
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and worked alongside the Thames.
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And I want to show you how today,
it's even busier
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and a bigger part of our lives
than ever.
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Don't move.
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It's very difficult...
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It's difficult to keep.
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...to interview you while
I'm counting.
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How many have you got in there now?
God knows.
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My journey will take me to its
furthest reaches.
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From the Cotswolds in the west...
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Cor, some size quarry, isn't it?
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...to where the river meets the sea
in the east.
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They're all laughing over that side.
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Keep a straight face.
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I'm doing me best.
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I'll meet people whose working lives
depend on the Thames
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and who feel as passionately about
it as I do.
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We love our Thames.
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We're so lucky.
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F
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£
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I'll go behind the scenes of its
most iconic landmarks.
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Oh, wow.
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Bang.
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Ancl discover its hidden gems.
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They do look sci-fi, don't they?
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This is the River Thames as you've
never seen it before.
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Hectic.
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Hardworking.
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Breathtaking.
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Awe-inspiring.
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I can't wait.
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To me, a trip down the Thames always
feels a bit like time travel.
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I want to show how the river is
vital to our heritage.
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Sometimes preserving traditional
crafts and trades,
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sometimes re-inventing them to keep
pace with our modern lives.
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I'm beginning in Greenwich,
where the Thames has given
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an iconic relic of London's maritime
past a whole new lease of life.
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Over there, just above the trees,
you can see the masts
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of the 280-foot time capsule
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that's known as the Cutty Sark.
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She was once the fastest ship in
her day.
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But since 1954, she's been nestled
there static in dry clock.
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Cutty Sark was the Ferrari of the
late 18005.
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She was built for speed with a sleek
streamlined hull and vast sail area.
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And she set world records on the
epic 13,500-mile route
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from Australia to London's thriving
clocks just down the river from here.
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It took a crew of around 20 to
maintain her on the high seas,
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and the work doesn't stop now she's
on dry land.
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Keeping a gorgeous mid-19th-century
sailing ship like this
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in tip-top condition is a real
labour of love.
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I'll bet when the ship first got
here in the 19505,
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they didn't do all this business.
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It would just have been blokes
running up and down
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ladders, with fags in their mouths.
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But you're well-tied-up.
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Certainly, Tony, at all times.
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Simon and his dedicated crew look
after everything,
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from the decking to the delicate
gilt decorations
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on the bow and stem of the ship.
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What's this you're doing?
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Just monitoring the corking around
all this gilded scrollwork.
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We did a conservation project
about two years ago,
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where some elements had to be
re-carved cos they'd become rotten
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and then a gilder came in
and applied
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23-and-a-half-carat gold leaf.
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It's like neon lights, really.
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Yeah, when the sun hits it as well,
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it really kind of looks like some
fire almost,
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real kind of glow coming from it.
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Beautiful.
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Is there anything I can do here?
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It's quite a specialist job but
there's plenty of other things
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I can get you busy doing on deck,
if you fancy it?
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Yeah, I'll have a go.
Yeah, let's go. OK.
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The thing that strikes me more than
anything else
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on this deck is the sheer size
of it.
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I mean, it's like a cricket pitch,
isn't it?
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Yeah, 151 feet from stem to stem.
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36 foot on the beam at the
widest point.
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How often do you scrub it?
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Every morning,
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we have the hoses out.
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What else do you clean?
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Everything, everything.
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Looking after the bright works,
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deck houses.
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Hang on, bright works? What does
bright works mean?
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Bright works. Any varnished piece of
timber you see. Shiny!
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So, all the shiny teak you can see.
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It's like painting the Forth Bridge,
isn't it?
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Yeah, it's a job that will never,
never end
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and never be finished.
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These days, all that gleaming
woodwork has to withstand
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a quarter of a million visitors
a year.
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No wonder it needs oiling.
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Probably the wear and tear on it now
is worse than a whole year's
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worth of tropical storms.
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Yeah, yeah, I'd imagine so, yeah.
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So can I have a go at trying
to replace
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some of that tourist wear and tear?
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Get some oil on it.
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When I was a kid and it came
to London,
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it was virtually a wreck, really.
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You certainly would never have
thought that it would ever be
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as elegant as this and that a
quarter of a million people a year
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would want to come and see it.
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Cutty Sark first launched in 1869 to
carry tea from China.
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But despite her cutting-edge spec,
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steamers using the newly opened
Suez Canal were soon outpacing her.
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So Cutty Sark turned to the
Australian wool run,
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where the trade winds gave her sails
the edge.
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Oh, Simon this is fantastic.
Hi.
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This is a 19505 replica of the wheel
that steered her to those
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record - breaking speeds.
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We get a lot of people touching it
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because it's such an iconic part of
the ship.
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Oh, what, visitors coming in and
standing there like that,
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yeah, I'd do that.
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Like all of us when we get to 70,
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it's due some TLC.
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How long you been sanding this?
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It's been about three weeks.
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Wow.
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Well, almost all by hand, is the
nature of it.
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It's just a big collection of curved
surfaces and if you get
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a machine on most of those surfaces
it's going to start
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squaring them off.
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Where does it hang when it's done?
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It's attached to the steering gear
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which is at the very stern of
the ship.
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50 goes on here, so this bolt holds
it in place. Yeah.
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It's a beautiful simple piece
of engineering.
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The steering mechanism is a prime
example of how cutting-edge
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the ship was 150 years ago.
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Its space-saving design maximised
the cargo she could carry.
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This would turn this screw, which
would move these pistons,
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which in turn would angle this
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and then this is connected down into
the post of the rudder.
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What it reminds of is the fact that
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we're really on the cusp of
shipbuilding here, aren't we?
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We've got, we've gone out of the old
Georgian high-masted Navy
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and we're moving towards this kind
of thing. That's it.
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Later, I see how Cutty Sark's iconic
figurehead is being reborn upriver.
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Oh, wow.
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It hits you full in the face,
doesn't it?
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And my visit goes with a bang...
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Wahey! That was a nice one.
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...when I see how the Thames is
helping London clean up its act.
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Put a spring in my step, that did.
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The Thames connects us to our past.
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It's got a long tradition of doing
the capital's dirty work...
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...and I've come to Erith in
South London,
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where that's still true today.
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I love sights like that - all our
cars all our kitchens, girders,
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cables, greenhouses,
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all our civilisation being
mashed up.
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It's the apocalypse.
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Back in the 18005, dust yards
lined the river.
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Women and children did the dirty
dangerous job
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of hand-sifting piles of toxic
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coal ash for raw materials that
could be sold on to the brick-making
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and fertiliser industries.
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Today, this vast riverside
scrapyard
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tells a more contemporary
recycling story
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on an epic scale.
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300 tonnes of scrap are processed
here every day...
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...much of which is transported down
the Thames by barge,
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cheaply and in bulk, to
Tilbury clocks.
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Unwanted cars are one of the most
important items
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they save from landfill,
with a massive 1.4 million of them
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reaching the end of the road
every year.
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Their final journey starts
with a weigh-in
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and it's Sophie's job to work out
what each car's worth.
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Our prices are based on the weight
of the vehicle,
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the metal content in there.
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How many cars do you get through
a day, do you think?
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Normally, on average, about 2-3
a day depending on the day.
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Every day's different.
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It can go up to about 10 or 11.
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And after a car's been weighed...
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It will go over to the ELV.
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What does that mean?
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ELV stands for end-of-life vehicles.
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We take out all hazardous waste from
it, as in oils, engines,
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and we pop the airbags and things
like that.
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Anything that could be a hazard to
our guys.
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And that's just down there?
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That's just down there.
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Do you reckon I could go and have a
look? Yeah, go ahead.
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Oh, I think I can hear some metal
being moved around already.
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Before a car can go to the great
scrapheap in the sky,
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there are hazards to be dealt with.
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Because inside every modern vehicle
are dangerous explosives
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in the form of its airbags.
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And it's Jack's job to deal
with them.
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00:10:36,260 --> 00:10:40,635
É
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The best way to make them safe?
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Blow them up, of course.
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F
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00:10:46,900 --> 00:10:49,794
é
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OK.
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Yeah.
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00:10:52,540 --> 00:10:54,794
É
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00:10:54,819 --> 00:10:56,075
One,
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two,
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00:10:57,619 --> 00:10:58,955
three.
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Whoa!
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00:11:00,020 --> 00:11:01,275
É
212
00:11:01,300 --> 00:11:02,594
Wahey! That was a nice one.
213
00:11:02,619 --> 00:11:03,714
F
214
00:11:03,739 --> 00:11:04,794
Boof!
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00:11:04,819 --> 00:11:05,875
I got it.
216
00:11:05,900 --> 00:11:08,485
F
217
00:11:08,510 --> 00:11:11,275
Oh, put a spring in my step,
that did.
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00:11:11,300 --> 00:11:14,794
Next, all the chemicals have to
be drained out.
219
00:11:14,819 --> 00:11:16,955
Shaun, give us a wave.
220
00:11:16,980 --> 00:11:18,275
Hiya. Hiya.
221
00:11:18,300 --> 00:11:22,635
It's a hazardous job, so I'm keeping
a safe distance.
222
00:11:22,660 --> 00:11:24,875
You're draining off all the
liquids, right?
223
00:11:24,900 --> 00:11:27,594
Just done the oil, going on to
the petrol.
224
00:11:27,619 --> 00:11:29,075
What's that noise?
225
00:11:29,100 --> 00:11:30,385
Air pressure.
226
00:11:30,410 --> 00:11:32,664
So, its sucking all the
liquid through.
227
00:11:32,689 --> 00:11:34,844
It goes all the way along the back
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00:11:34,869 --> 00:11:37,155
and then into our storage tank.
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You'd think all this would
be unusable,
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but from brake fluid to anti-freeze,
all of it can be recycled.
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00:11:44,150 --> 00:11:47,435
With this petrol, this pipe goes up,
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00:11:47,460 --> 00:11:50,875
and then you can see what fluids
come out.
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00:11:50,900 --> 00:11:52,794
We got the catalytic converter here.
234
00:11:52,819 --> 00:11:54,995
So, this is all to do with
your emissions.
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This is probably one of the most
expensive parts,
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ranging from £2 up to £400-plus.
237
00:12:01,790 --> 00:12:03,714
So, it's worth whipping out.
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00:12:03,739 --> 00:12:05,195
Most definitely, yeah.
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Just as in the days of the dust yards,
where there's muck, there's brass.
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But these days, we all benefit.
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00:12:15,380 --> 00:12:19,075
How much of that car is going to
be recycled?
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95% gets recycled.
243
00:12:21,150 --> 00:12:22,584
That's impressive, isn't it?
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00:12:22,609 --> 00:12:24,125
Everything what we can.
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Even down to the dirt.
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00:12:25,710 --> 00:12:27,555
What do you mean?
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00:12:27,580 --> 00:12:29,044
We recycle the dirt.
248
00:12:29,069 --> 00:12:31,765
We'll build up our dirt, we'll lay
it out,
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it will go through a magnet
250
00:12:33,500 --> 00:12:36,714
and it will be refined further and
further until it comes out pure.
251
00:12:36,739 --> 00:12:39,914
Everything what can be recycled,
we do recycle.
252
00:12:39,939 --> 00:12:42,875
You hold on to that mate, don't
lose it, that's worth a few bob.
253
00:12:42,900 --> 00:12:46,355
You tuck that away. No, I will.
I put this on the side.
254
00:12:46,380 --> 00:12:47,875
De-pollution clone,
255
00:12:47,900 --> 00:12:50,195
it's time for the car to meet
its maker.
256
00:12:53,300 --> 00:12:56,075
This is the bit I've always wanted
to see.
257
00:12:56,100 --> 00:13:00,794
That's where the murdered bloke in
the car goes into the crusher
258
00:13:00,819 --> 00:13:03,435
and he comes out like a little cube.
259
00:13:03,460 --> 00:13:06,155
OK, my imagination might be running
a bit wild
260
00:13:06,180 --> 00:13:09,714
but you've got to admit this feels
just like one of these 19605 films
261
00:13:09,739 --> 00:13:11,325
about London gangsters.
262
00:13:19,709 --> 00:13:22,043
I can just hear those
ominous thumps.
263
00:13:26,429 --> 00:13:28,274
Hey!
264
00:13:28,299 --> 00:13:29,754
There it is.
265
00:13:31,068 --> 00:13:32,833
There's an arm sticking out.
266
00:13:32,858 --> 00:13:34,554
No, there isn't. Only kidding.
267
00:13:40,099 --> 00:13:42,833
Cor, its got that real car smell
about it.
268
00:13:45,858 --> 00:13:47,194
Isn't that wonderful?
269
00:13:55,858 --> 00:13:58,114
Like the dust yards before it,
270
00:13:58,139 --> 00:14:00,793
this place is on the river for
a reason.
271
00:14:02,269 --> 00:14:05,624
Once every last scrap of usable
metal has been salvaged,
272
00:14:05,649 --> 00:14:08,704
it's loaded on to boats and sent off
to the next step
273
00:14:08,729 --> 00:14:10,294
of its recycling journey.
274
00:14:11,758 --> 00:14:14,454
Richard's got just two hours to get
this barge
275
00:14:14,479 --> 00:14:17,524
loaded before the tide turns.
276
00:14:17,549 --> 00:14:19,494
It's a big old crane, isn't it?
277
00:14:19,519 --> 00:14:21,414
It certainly is.
278
00:14:21,439 --> 00:14:24,434
What kind of weight do you reckon it
will load the boat up with?
279
00:14:24,459 --> 00:14:26,783
That will load approximately about
550 tonnes.
280
00:14:28,099 --> 00:14:29,864
And what would a lorry carry?
281
00:14:29,889 --> 00:14:32,504
Approximately about 23-24 tonnes.
282
00:14:32,529 --> 00:14:34,074
It's a massive difference, isn't it?
283
00:14:34,099 --> 00:14:35,354
It is, yes.
284
00:14:35,379 --> 00:14:37,833
We, obviously, when using the
River Thames -
285
00:14:37,858 --> 00:14:40,474
so we can send all our scrap down
the river,
286
00:14:40,499 --> 00:14:42,783
keeping lorries off the roads,
287
00:14:42,808 --> 00:14:44,963
toll charges down,
288
00:14:44,988 --> 00:14:46,504
the emissions down.
289
00:14:46,529 --> 00:14:47,913
It's the same old story, isn't it?
290
00:14:47,938 --> 00:14:49,554
The Thames is your lifeblood.
291
00:14:49,579 --> 00:14:51,833
It certainly is, yeah,
we'd be lost without it.
292
00:14:53,858 --> 00:14:55,354
And there she goes,
293
00:14:55,379 --> 00:14:57,324
heading down to Tilbury clocks,
294
00:14:57,349 --> 00:15:00,833
from where the scrap will be
exported all over the world,
295
00:15:00,858 --> 00:15:03,754
to be melted down and made into
shiny new metal.
296
00:15:05,379 --> 00:15:08,634
The Thames offers us different ways
of doing things
297
00:15:08,659 --> 00:15:10,783
and that's what these guys have
done,
298
00:15:10,808 --> 00:15:13,114
helping to make London cleaner
299
00:15:13,139 --> 00:15:14,504
and more sustainable.
300
00:15:20,579 --> 00:15:23,394
As well as helping safeguard
our future,
301
00:15:23,419 --> 00:15:26,674
the river also does a rather good
job of preserving our past.
302
00:15:28,529 --> 00:15:32,913
I've travelled 119 miles upriver to
a picturesque spot on the banks
303
00:15:32,938 --> 00:15:36,064
of the River Thame, a tributary of
the Thames.
304
00:15:39,579 --> 00:15:42,884
I'm here to meet England's last
professional ship carver,
305
00:15:42,909 --> 00:15:44,244
Andy Peters...
306
00:15:45,579 --> 00:15:48,274
...who's been given the
once-in-a-lifetime job
307
00:15:48,299 --> 00:15:50,703
of recreating Cutty
Sark's figurehead.
308
00:15:51,808 --> 00:15:52,913
Hiya, Andy.
309
00:15:52,938 --> 00:15:53,953
É
310
00:15:53,978 --> 00:15:55,194
Beautiful workshops.
311
00:15:55,219 --> 00:15:56,424
É
312
00:15:56,449 --> 00:15:59,163
F
313
00:15:59,188 --> 00:16:00,754
How long have you been a woodcarver?
314
00:16:00,779 --> 00:16:02,114
É
315
00:16:02,139 --> 00:16:03,994
What inspired you to get into it?
316
00:16:04,019 --> 00:16:06,194
É
317
00:16:06,219 --> 00:16:09,994
F
318
00:16:10,019 --> 00:16:11,783
F
319
00:16:11,808 --> 00:16:15,884
F
320
00:16:15,909 --> 00:16:19,833
é
321
00:16:19,858 --> 00:16:21,064
How wonderful.
322
00:16:21,089 --> 00:16:23,703
The Cutty Sark inspired you and now
you've got this great commission.
323
00:16:23,728 --> 00:16:24,994
É
324
00:16:25,019 --> 00:16:27,703
é
325
00:16:27,728 --> 00:16:29,344
£
326
00:16:29,369 --> 00:16:31,474
Can I have a look at some of
your work?
327
00:16:33,188 --> 00:16:35,033
Oh, wow.
328
00:16:35,058 --> 00:16:37,634
It hits you full in the face,
doesn't it?
329
00:16:37,659 --> 00:16:39,594
How beautiful is that?
330
00:16:39,619 --> 00:16:43,984
F
331
00:16:44,009 --> 00:16:47,394
é
332
00:16:47,419 --> 00:16:51,515
Much of Andy's work is restoring
historic figureheads.
333
00:16:51,540 --> 00:16:55,186
F
334
00:16:55,211 --> 00:16:57,546
I love these on this table here.
335
00:16:57,571 --> 00:16:59,825
They really look quite eerie,
don't they?
336
00:16:59,850 --> 00:17:00,945
É
337
00:17:00,970 --> 00:17:02,386
F
338
00:17:02,411 --> 00:17:05,825
Everywhere you look in this room,
there's some amazing treasure.
339
00:17:05,850 --> 00:17:09,796
But his original commissions
are equally extraordinary.
340
00:17:09,821 --> 00:17:11,186
I've got to keep looking at them.
341
00:17:11,211 --> 00:17:12,436
That's great.
342
00:17:12,461 --> 00:17:13,976
£
343
00:17:14,001 --> 00:17:16,546
Yeah, it almost looks like a
Picasso, doesn't it?
344
00:17:16,571 --> 00:17:18,266
And this one you're still
working on?
345
00:17:18,291 --> 00:17:20,866
É
346
00:17:20,891 --> 00:17:24,436
I love that all the chippings are
still here.
347
00:17:24,461 --> 00:17:27,516
É
348
00:17:27,541 --> 00:17:30,666
Once you know what you're going
to carve,
349
00:17:30,691 --> 00:17:32,746
is it pretty straightforward?
350
00:17:32,771 --> 00:17:36,976
F
351
00:17:37,001 --> 00:17:40,226
F
352
00:17:40,251 --> 00:17:42,075
F
353
00:17:43,331 --> 00:17:49,586
Cutty Sark's current figurehead is
a 19505 replica of the original.
354
00:17:49,611 --> 00:17:53,155
But its almost 70-years-old, and
it's beginning to rot.
355
00:17:56,771 --> 00:18:02,155
Recreating this six-foot statuesque
beauty requires painstaking prep.
356
00:18:04,461 --> 00:18:07,586
É
357
00:18:07,611 --> 00:18:09,586
£
358
00:18:09,611 --> 00:18:12,506
F
359
00:18:12,531 --> 00:18:14,406
£
360
00:18:14,431 --> 00:18:16,886
é
361
00:18:16,911 --> 00:18:19,106
Maquette, you call it?
362
00:18:19,131 --> 00:18:20,256
What does that mean?
363
00:18:20,281 --> 00:18:21,506
É
364
00:18:21,531 --> 00:18:25,106
é
365
00:18:25,131 --> 00:18:29,356
The figurehead was inspired by the
Robert Burns poem, Tam o' Shanter.
366
00:18:31,891 --> 00:18:35,145
The poem features a rather saucy
witch, Nanny,
367
00:18:35,170 --> 00:18:37,895
dressed only in a cutty sark,
368
00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:40,386
or skimpy nightie, to you and me.
369
00:18:40,411 --> 00:18:43,356
And are you going to have
real hair like that?
370
00:18:43,381 --> 00:18:46,466
É
371
00:18:46,491 --> 00:18:48,256
What is the original story?
372
00:18:48,281 --> 00:18:51,825
F
373
00:18:51,850 --> 00:18:54,145
F
374
00:18:54,170 --> 00:18:59,466
F
375
00:18:59,491 --> 00:19:02,176
é
376
00:19:02,201 --> 00:19:06,075
F
377
00:19:06,100 --> 00:19:09,356
F
378
00:19:09,381 --> 00:19:12,606
é
379
00:19:15,891 --> 00:19:19,306
Andy's ready to start roughing out
the basic outline
380
00:19:19,331 --> 00:19:21,666
and he's offered to let me help.
381
00:19:21,691 --> 00:19:24,945
This calls for a practice run.
382
00:19:24,970 --> 00:19:28,825
£
383
00:19:28,850 --> 00:19:31,145
F
384
00:19:31,170 --> 00:19:33,466
é
385
00:19:33,491 --> 00:19:35,466
Listen, I am so rubbish at woodwork.
386
00:19:35,491 --> 00:19:37,666
I was only allowed to do it for one
year at school.
387
00:19:37,691 --> 00:19:40,246
I got 8/100 and they wouldn't let me
do it again after that,
388
00:19:40,271 --> 00:19:41,486
but I will certainly have a go.
389
00:19:41,511 --> 00:19:42,606
Q
390
00:19:42,631 --> 00:19:44,806
F
391
00:19:44,831 --> 00:19:48,016
é
392
00:19:48,041 --> 00:19:50,806
F
393
00:19:50,831 --> 00:19:54,196
é
394
00:19:54,221 --> 00:19:56,376
Why do you do it a bit off the line?
395
00:19:56,401 --> 00:19:58,016
F
396
00:19:58,041 --> 00:19:59,915
F
397
00:19:59,940 --> 00:20:02,606
é
398
00:20:02,631 --> 00:20:03,915
Yeah, yeah.
399
00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:08,496
F
400
00:20:08,521 --> 00:20:09,986
Yeah, I'll have a go.
401
00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:15,446
There is something incredibly
satisfying about doing this.
402
00:20:23,601 --> 00:20:29,055
Well, I feel slightly more confident
than I did quarter of an hour ago.
403
00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:32,856
Are you ready to unleash me on
the real thing?
404
00:20:32,881 --> 00:20:35,656
F
405
00:20:35,681 --> 00:20:38,496
You were slightly thoughtful
about that!
406
00:20:38,521 --> 00:20:40,805
É
407
00:20:50,241 --> 00:20:51,626
Is this it or the basis of it?
408
00:20:51,651 --> 00:20:53,265
É
409
00:20:53,290 --> 00:20:54,526
That's incredible.
410
00:20:55,881 --> 00:21:00,086
So far, Andy's created a carving
block made up of layers,
411
00:21:00,111 --> 00:21:02,805
or laminates, of wood that have been
glued together.
412
00:21:02,830 --> 00:21:04,416
What is this wood?
413
00:21:04,441 --> 00:21:06,805
É
414
00:21:06,830 --> 00:21:09,055
You have to be fussy about where
you get the pine from?
415
00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:10,496
F
416
00:21:10,521 --> 00:21:14,185
é
417
00:21:14,210 --> 00:21:16,336
F
418
00:21:16,361 --> 00:21:18,015
F
419
00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:20,696
F
420
00:21:20,721 --> 00:21:23,805
I can see that this is going to be
the arm
421
00:21:23,830 --> 00:21:26,576
but where's the rest of it in
the wood?
422
00:21:26,601 --> 00:21:29,265
É
423
00:21:29,290 --> 00:21:32,015
F
424
00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,166
F
425
00:21:35,191 --> 00:21:36,906
F
426
00:21:36,931 --> 00:21:39,696
é
427
00:21:39,721 --> 00:21:42,616
F
428
00:21:42,641 --> 00:21:45,185
Do you reckon every dockyard down
the Thames
429
00:21:45,210 --> 00:21:46,935
would have had its own ship carver?
430
00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:48,446
É
431
00:21:48,471 --> 00:21:50,086
F
432
00:21:51,931 --> 00:21:55,216
It's an honour to be following in
the footsteps of those generations
433
00:21:55,241 --> 00:21:56,496
of skilled craftsmen.
434
00:22:00,751 --> 00:22:03,005
Deep breaths.
435
00:22:03,030 --> 00:22:05,185
É
436
00:22:05,210 --> 00:22:07,366
£
437
00:22:07,391 --> 00:22:09,135
OK.
438
00:22:13,801 --> 00:22:16,616
F
439
00:22:16,641 --> 00:22:18,826
F
440
00:22:18,851 --> 00:22:20,135
OK.
441
00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:27,776
What part of the process is most
challenging for you?
442
00:22:27,801 --> 00:22:29,336
É
443
00:22:29,361 --> 00:22:32,055
£
444
00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:36,466
F
445
00:22:36,491 --> 00:22:39,826
é
446
00:22:39,851 --> 00:22:42,216
F
447
00:22:42,241 --> 00:22:44,366
Grumpy but good-looking.
448
00:22:44,391 --> 00:22:47,336
What do you think the schoolboy Andy
449
00:22:47,361 --> 00:22:50,726
would think about what you're
doing now?
450
00:22:50,751 --> 00:22:53,536
É
451
00:22:53,561 --> 00:22:57,255
é
452
00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:00,255
F
453
00:23:02,111 --> 00:23:05,055
It will take Andy another three
months of carving,
454
00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:08,826
then a month of careful painting,
before Nanny will, at last,
455
00:23:08,851 --> 00:23:13,496
be ready to take pride of place
back on the Cutty Sark.
456
00:23:13,521 --> 00:23:15,496
I think there's something
quite exhilarating
457
00:23:15,521 --> 00:23:19,696
about watching a skilled craftsmen
creating something beautiful
458
00:23:19,721 --> 00:23:21,466
out of raw materials.
459
00:23:21,491 --> 00:23:25,005
But, in the case of Andy and the
Cutty Sark, it's very special,
460
00:23:25,030 --> 00:23:26,366
isn't it?
461
00:23:26,391 --> 00:23:30,336
This will be something that millions
of people will see for
462
00:23:30,361 --> 00:23:32,175
maybe 100 years.
463
00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:36,646
And when they do, a few of those
chisel marks will be mine.
464
00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:46,386
Next...
465
00:23:46,411 --> 00:23:48,386
What's behind all these big doors?
466
00:23:48,411 --> 00:23:50,766
...I discover how the Thames
helps provide us
467
00:23:50,791 --> 00:23:53,356
with fruit all year round.
468
00:23:53,381 --> 00:23:56,236
So they've had their shower, now
they have their hair dried.
469
00:23:56,261 --> 00:23:58,876
Well, it's not really hair, but you
know what I mean.
470
00:24:08,131 --> 00:24:09,906
All along the Thames,
471
00:24:09,931 --> 00:24:13,156
you'll find evidence of our
traditional trades and industries
472
00:24:13,181 --> 00:24:15,515
and our history.
473
00:24:15,540 --> 00:24:18,565
I've come to Kent on the
H00 Peninsula,
474
00:24:18,590 --> 00:24:21,356
which is sandwiched between
the estuaries of the Thames
475
00:24:21,381 --> 00:24:23,565
and the River Medway.
476
00:24:23,590 --> 00:24:27,435
The peninsula's position marks the
entrance to what's always been
477
00:24:27,460 --> 00:24:30,036
the nation's most important
trade route,
478
00:24:30,061 --> 00:24:33,746
making it vital to defend against
foreign invasion.
479
00:24:36,101 --> 00:24:39,156
As an island nation, the threat of
attack on us
480
00:24:39,181 --> 00:24:41,676
from our enemies has usually come
from the sea,
481
00:24:41,701 --> 00:24:45,596
and the first conflict we know about
that had its mark on Hoo
482
00:24:45,621 --> 00:24:49,515
was the extended period of hostility
between the English and French
483
00:24:49,540 --> 00:24:51,315
in the 14th century.
484
00:24:53,660 --> 00:24:58,276
So the locals built fortifications
to protect the peninsula.
485
00:24:58,301 --> 00:25:00,716
But fast forward a few hundred years
486
00:25:00,741 --> 00:25:04,026
and Hoo's defences urgently needed
an upgrade.
487
00:25:04,051 --> 00:25:07,716
This rather dinky fort is
called Slough Fort,
488
00:25:07,741 --> 00:25:13,076
and it was built by a very nervous
British government in 1867,
489
00:25:13,101 --> 00:25:16,156
when we were having a row with
the French.
490
00:25:16,181 --> 00:25:20,106
Slough was just one of a chain of
forts built in the 18605,
491
00:25:20,131 --> 00:25:23,236
when France's developing
artillery technology
492
00:25:23,261 --> 00:25:27,716
and expanding navy were putting
the willies up the British military.
493
00:25:27,741 --> 00:25:30,596
To defend the Thames
trade superhighway,
494
00:25:30,621 --> 00:25:35,276
Slough was kitted out with
up-to-the-minute gear.
495
00:25:35,301 --> 00:25:39,356
It sounds a bit mad, but it actually
had guns that were,
496
00:25:39,381 --> 00:25:45,156
not like this, but with two huge
disappearing carriages.
497
00:25:45,181 --> 00:25:50,236
What that meant was that you would
fire the cannon out to sea
498
00:25:50,261 --> 00:25:54,515
and then they would sink into to
gun pits.
499
00:25:54,540 --> 00:25:56,106
You would rapidly reload them
500
00:25:56,131 --> 00:25:59,515
and they would come up again
and fire again.
501
00:25:59,540 --> 00:26:05,796
They were terrifying really, really
big but also incredibly slow.
502
00:26:05,821 --> 00:26:08,356
They didn't stay in fashion for very
long at all.
503
00:26:11,181 --> 00:26:13,486
The French threat
never materialised,
504
00:26:13,511 --> 00:26:15,106
and by 1914,
505
00:26:15,131 --> 00:26:19,846
Britain and France were allies
fighting together against Germany,
506
00:26:19,871 --> 00:26:23,665
and the fort was pressed in to
service as a command post.
507
00:26:23,690 --> 00:26:28,395
After the First World War,
it fell into disrepair.
508
00:26:28,420 --> 00:26:31,565
It picked up again as a defence
structure in the Second World War
509
00:26:31,590 --> 00:26:36,926
but no shot was ever fired here in
anger and it became a ruin again.
510
00:26:39,061 --> 00:26:42,496
Thankfully, it's now being restored
to remind us all
511
00:26:42,521 --> 00:26:46,496
of the H00 Peninsula's vital role in
defending the Thames.
512
00:26:50,420 --> 00:26:54,726
Moving four miles inland, I find a
traditional Kentish industry
513
00:26:54,751 --> 00:26:57,956
that's thrived here since the
17th century.
514
00:26:57,981 --> 00:26:59,086
Fruit farming.
515
00:27:01,031 --> 00:27:04,486
Warm air from the Thames Estuary
and the River Medway
516
00:27:04,511 --> 00:27:07,956
creates a mild micro-climate perfect
for growing,
517
00:27:07,981 --> 00:27:10,886
and it's within easy reach of the
capital, too.
518
00:27:10,911 --> 00:27:14,445
So, historically, the fruit could be
transported by the river
519
00:27:14,470 --> 00:27:16,645
to London's burgeoning population.
520
00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:21,525
And today, judging by this
epic orchard,
521
00:27:21,550 --> 00:27:24,846
the fruit business is
still flourishing.
522
00:27:24,871 --> 00:27:28,525
Family firm Goatham's grow one in
four of the British apples
523
00:27:28,550 --> 00:27:29,886
eaten in the UK.
524
00:27:32,831 --> 00:27:36,286
Cor, Darren, you look more like an
archaeologist than a tree grower,
525
00:27:36,311 --> 00:27:38,645
with all the tech in the back of
your car.
526
00:27:38,670 --> 00:27:41,486
Darren's worked in the fruit
trade for 32 years.
527
00:27:41,511 --> 00:27:44,806
We use satellite mapping to actually
tell us what's in the ground,
528
00:27:44,831 --> 00:27:47,976
so we know how good it is, what
kind of tree would be the best
529
00:27:48,001 --> 00:27:50,036
kind of tree to plant on that site.
530
00:27:50,061 --> 00:27:52,956
It also tells us, when we come to
feed the trees,
531
00:27:52,981 --> 00:27:55,315
what areas need it,
what areas don't.
532
00:27:55,340 --> 00:27:57,926
We've also got soil sensors in the
ground, which tells us when
533
00:27:57,951 --> 00:28:01,415
we need to actually irrigate and
fertigate, to keep the trees healthy.
534
00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,057
Why are the trees so small?
535
00:28:04,082 --> 00:28:07,097
Years ago, trees were much
bigger rootstocks,
536
00:28:07,122 --> 00:28:08,817
so they grew very big trees.
537
00:28:08,842 --> 00:28:10,057
Gorgeous, beautiful things.
538
00:28:10,082 --> 00:28:12,486
They were. The problem with that is
they grow a lot of wood.
539
00:28:12,511 --> 00:28:14,057
Now, what we're actually trying
to do
540
00:28:14,082 --> 00:28:15,897
is maximise the amount of fruit that
we grow.
541
00:28:15,922 --> 00:28:17,847
After all, that's the crop we want
to pick.
542
00:28:17,872 --> 00:28:20,027
So all those big branches just put
energy into growing
543
00:28:20,052 --> 00:28:21,777
themselves rather than the fruit?
544
00:28:21,802 --> 00:28:23,027
Exactly.
545
00:28:23,052 --> 00:28:25,927
By doing it this way, we can prune
the tree, to let light in
546
00:28:25,952 --> 00:28:27,847
all the way down the tree, so that
all the fruit
547
00:28:27,872 --> 00:28:29,337
colours at the same time,
548
00:28:29,362 --> 00:28:31,927
makes it easier for when we actually
come to pick the crop.
549
00:28:31,952 --> 00:28:34,777
It's a far cry from my idea of
an orchard,
550
00:28:34,802 --> 00:28:37,616
which let's face it, is probably a
bit romantic.
551
00:28:39,511 --> 00:28:43,047
The variety we're looking at now,
Gala, is grown all over the world.
552
00:28:43,072 --> 00:28:45,377
So it's not just a variety that
we sell,
553
00:28:45,402 --> 00:28:46,897
so we have to be competitive.
554
00:28:49,082 --> 00:28:51,377
Apples used to be a seasonal treat
555
00:28:51,402 --> 00:28:54,307
but now we've got used to having
them all year round.
556
00:28:54,332 --> 00:28:57,416
Goatham's have to compete with
suppliers from abroad,
557
00:28:57,441 --> 00:29:01,017
so they use the latest technology to
make sure the apples
558
00:29:01,042 --> 00:29:05,666
they harvest in autumn stay fresh
for months afterwards.
559
00:29:05,691 --> 00:29:07,416
What's behind all these big doors?
560
00:29:07,441 --> 00:29:10,227
Well, obviously we've seen where the
fruit comes from in the orchard.
561
00:29:10,252 --> 00:29:11,837
This is where it ends up.
562
00:29:18,362 --> 00:29:20,207
Wow.
563
00:29:20,232 --> 00:29:23,257
How many apples do you reckon
there are in here?
564
00:29:23,282 --> 00:29:24,536
Hundreds of thousands.
565
00:29:24,561 --> 00:29:26,207
Couldn't even put a figure on it.
566
00:29:26,232 --> 00:29:28,847
The key thing is, as soon as we get
them from the orchard,
567
00:29:28,872 --> 00:29:32,127
get them as cold as we possibly can
as quickly as we can.
568
00:29:32,152 --> 00:29:35,616
Most apple varieties we keep at
around about half of a degree.
569
00:29:35,641 --> 00:29:38,057
Obviously, that will only keep them
for so long.
570
00:29:38,082 --> 00:29:40,697
If you want to keep them for very,
very long-term storage,
571
00:29:40,722 --> 00:29:43,127
we have to change the conditions in
the store.
572
00:29:43,152 --> 00:29:45,127
So we have to take out the oxygen
from the store,
573
00:29:45,152 --> 00:29:47,767
to slow down the respiration of the
fruit completely.
574
00:29:50,402 --> 00:29:54,457
This is the total opposite of my
childhood experience of apples,
575
00:29:54,482 --> 00:29:58,097
which was about apples in your
pockets, in paper bags,
576
00:29:58,122 --> 00:29:59,536
in satchels,
577
00:29:59,561 --> 00:30:01,047
some of them with worms in,
578
00:30:01,072 --> 00:30:03,406
some bruised, some had gone a
bit bad,
579
00:30:03,431 --> 00:30:06,047
so you cut the bad bit away
with a knife.
580
00:30:06,072 --> 00:30:07,766
Here, they're all perfect.
581
00:30:07,791 --> 00:30:12,416
They're all beautiful and they're
all scrutinised technologically,
582
00:30:12,441 --> 00:30:14,107
all along the way.
583
00:30:14,132 --> 00:30:17,107
They're even put to sleep for months
like Sleeping Beauty,
584
00:30:17,132 --> 00:30:18,707
and then they're woken up again.
585
00:30:20,212 --> 00:30:24,467
Today, a supermarket has put in
an order for 86,000 packs.
586
00:30:26,052 --> 00:30:29,107
The apples need to be sorted,
counted and wrapped
587
00:30:29,132 --> 00:30:31,597
and it's nearly all done by
technology, of course.
588
00:30:34,072 --> 00:30:38,327
When the apples come out of their
fridges, they're brought here.
589
00:30:38,352 --> 00:30:42,327
And you see those massive, green
robotic arms.
590
00:30:42,352 --> 00:30:46,967
They're snatched up and then they're
dunked down into the water
591
00:30:46,992 --> 00:30:49,457
and then they're put on this
conveyor belt
592
00:30:49,482 --> 00:30:53,897
and literally apple-bobbed
all the way along here.
593
00:30:53,922 --> 00:30:57,646
It looks like Oxford Circus
in the rush hour, doesn't it?
594
00:30:57,671 --> 00:31:01,257
They're all queuing up
so they can go up this escalator
595
00:31:01,282 --> 00:31:03,937
because then they're
out of the water.
596
00:31:05,202 --> 00:31:07,767
This is where people look at them
and decide whether
597
00:31:07,792 --> 00:31:10,577
they're the right colour,
the right shape.
598
00:31:10,602 --> 00:31:15,767
And all the apples they don't like
go on that tiny little conveyor belt
599
00:31:15,792 --> 00:31:17,967
and are never seen again.
600
00:31:17,992 --> 00:31:23,377
But all the good ones continue along
their way till they come to here.
601
00:31:23,402 --> 00:31:26,656
And this is my favourite part
of the whole process
602
00:31:26,681 --> 00:31:30,177
because there they stop being
a whole crowd of apples
603
00:31:30,202 --> 00:31:32,767
and they're singled out
to be individuals.
604
00:31:32,792 --> 00:31:36,127
Each one is put into a little cup
605
00:31:37,482 --> 00:31:40,017
so that it can have its photo taken.
606
00:31:40,042 --> 00:31:42,217
Not just once but 20 times.
607
00:31:43,842 --> 00:31:47,817
Carol, why do you have to take
so many photographs of the apples?
608
00:31:47,842 --> 00:31:49,656
Well, simply the reason we take
so many photographs
609
00:31:49,681 --> 00:31:53,897
is to actually tell the machinery
here where to place the apples.
610
00:31:53,922 --> 00:31:56,507
Making sure that the right coloured
apples, the right size of apples
611
00:31:56,532 --> 00:31:57,656
actually go together.
612
00:31:57,681 --> 00:32:00,297
So every time the screen changes,
it's stilljust one apple?
613
00:32:00,322 --> 00:32:02,217
One apple, yes. Thank you.
614
00:32:02,242 --> 00:32:04,897
That's not the end
of the process, though.
615
00:32:06,072 --> 00:32:09,097
Here, when they've had their
photograph taken,
616
00:32:09,122 --> 00:32:14,937
they carry on on their travel before
they go down one of these lanes.
617
00:32:14,962 --> 00:32:17,457
There's 36 of these lanes.
618
00:32:17,482 --> 00:32:20,377
And this is where they all get
sorted out,
619
00:32:20,402 --> 00:32:24,457
depending on what kind of package
that they're going to go in.
620
00:32:24,482 --> 00:32:28,687
As you can see here, this is the
great big queue of rosy red apples
621
00:32:28,712 --> 00:32:31,247
that are going to go into
the six packs.
622
00:32:31,272 --> 00:32:35,017
But there's a really cute
little lane up here.
623
00:32:36,272 --> 00:32:37,606
See these?
624
00:32:38,792 --> 00:32:42,457
These are the tiny apples
that go into the children's packs.
625
00:32:43,631 --> 00:32:47,217
Then, when they get to the end,
where those numbers are,
626
00:32:47,242 --> 00:32:51,247
they're literally sucked into
a vortex of water.
627
00:32:51,272 --> 00:32:54,017
And when they come
out of the other side,
628
00:32:54,042 --> 00:32:56,137
they're ready to be put
into their packs.
629
00:33:04,402 --> 00:33:07,817
And this is the very final act
of the show.
630
00:33:07,842 --> 00:33:11,497
Here is where they're given
a final shower.
631
00:33:11,522 --> 00:33:16,297
Then they go all the way along here
to this huge hairdryer.
632
00:33:16,322 --> 00:33:19,327
So they've had their shower,
now they have their hair dried.
633
00:33:19,352 --> 00:33:21,817
Well, it's not really hair,
but you know what I mean.
634
00:33:23,452 --> 00:33:27,656
And then they race along here.
And what's happening here, Carol?
635
00:33:27,681 --> 00:33:30,457
Basically we're just putting a
real final visual check
636
00:33:30,482 --> 00:33:32,427
just to make sure that all the
fruit's absolutely perfect
637
00:33:32,452 --> 00:33:33,887
for when it goes into the packs.
638
00:33:33,912 --> 00:33:36,526
Yeah, yeah. So this is actually
the packing machine?
639
00:33:36,551 --> 00:33:39,526
This is actually the packaging
machine, yeah.
640
00:33:39,551 --> 00:33:42,523
Wow! All ready to go,
ready to go on sale.
641
00:33:50,798 --> 00:33:54,414
Here they all are, boxed and
packaged, ready for the shops.
642
00:33:54,439 --> 00:33:58,294
Perfectly grown, perfectly sweet
and perfectly perfect.
643
00:34:03,599 --> 00:34:08,733
Thanks to cutting edge tech, the
rich, centuries-old Thames-side soil
644
00:34:08,758 --> 00:34:11,374
now gives us English apples
all year around.
645
00:34:12,548 --> 00:34:15,773
As a kid, I'd never have believed
it was possible.
646
00:34:18,349 --> 00:34:23,523
Next, I get roped into making some
of Cutty Sark's 11 miles of rigging.
647
00:34:25,319 --> 00:34:27,523
My Fitbit's going off the scale
this morning.
648
00:34:36,635 --> 00:34:39,690
There's no better symbol of the way
the Thames keeps our heritage alive
649
00:34:39,715 --> 00:34:41,570
than the Cutty Sark.
650
00:34:43,024 --> 00:34:46,360
Today, her extraordinary
11 miles of rigging
651
00:34:46,385 --> 00:34:49,610
looks exactly as it did
in the 19th century.
652
00:34:49,635 --> 00:34:53,330
Thanks to a remarkable
business 35 miles downriver.
653
00:34:59,274 --> 00:35:01,410
Just look at the length
of that building.
654
00:35:03,235 --> 00:35:06,690
Inside is one of the longest
shop floors in the world.
655
00:35:08,545 --> 00:35:13,490
Here in this dockyard is England's
last traditional ropery.
656
00:35:13,515 --> 00:35:14,929
It's an enormous place.
657
00:35:14,954 --> 00:35:18,490
Stretches right the way
to the end of that alleyway.
658
00:35:18,515 --> 00:35:21,610
And it's been going since the middle
of the 18th century.
659
00:35:21,635 --> 00:35:24,690
And still today, there's a small
team of people
660
00:35:24,715 --> 00:35:29,570
who use the old Victorian methods
and the old Victorian machines
661
00:35:29,595 --> 00:35:33,360
to make rope for a whole bunch
of commercial enterprises,
662
00:35:33,385 --> 00:35:37,249
including making the rigging
for the Cutty Sark.
663
00:35:40,745 --> 00:35:44,440
The ropery is part of
Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust,
664
00:35:44,465 --> 00:35:48,490
where naval warships were once built
and maintained.
665
00:35:48,515 --> 00:35:52,210
In its heyday, this place made
thousands of miles of rope
666
00:35:52,235 --> 00:35:54,690
and employed hundreds of men.
667
00:35:54,715 --> 00:35:57,640
But today, just three staff
are going to guide me
668
00:35:57,665 --> 00:36:00,890
through the process of making rope
for the Cutty Sark.
669
00:36:00,915 --> 00:36:03,350
These are amazing looking machines.
670
00:36:05,595 --> 00:36:09,570
It all starts with yarn, which is
threaded through these holes
671
00:36:09,595 --> 00:36:11,640
to stop it getting tangled.
672
00:36:11,665 --> 00:36:15,330
And then after it's been through
here, what's this called?
673
00:36:15,355 --> 00:36:16,770
It's a forcing tube.
674
00:36:16,795 --> 00:36:19,160
And it does what it says
on the tin. Yep.
675
00:36:19,185 --> 00:36:23,210
It forces the threads
into these strands. Yep.
676
00:36:23,235 --> 00:36:26,799
A cart will pull the strands
the whole length of the workshop,
677
00:36:26,824 --> 00:36:28,440
twisting them as it goes.
678
00:36:28,465 --> 00:36:30,490
So by the time we get
to the other end,
679
00:36:30,515 --> 00:36:33,850
we'll have three twisted strands,
ready to be made into a rope?
680
00:36:33,875 --> 00:36:34,970
That's correct.
681
00:36:36,435 --> 00:36:37,919
Simple!
682
00:36:37,944 --> 00:36:42,640
How does the bloke at the other end
know when to start pulling?
683
00:36:42,665 --> 00:36:44,610
We signal using this bell line.
684
00:36:46,515 --> 00:36:48,490
And it will ring a bell
at the very far end.
685
00:36:48,515 --> 00:36:50,640
Are we ready to do it? Yep.
686
00:36:50,665 --> 00:36:52,410
So, that's it. Grab hold.
687
00:36:53,995 --> 00:36:55,610
I can't hear a thing.
688
00:36:55,635 --> 00:36:57,890
But at the other end...
689
00:36:57,915 --> 00:37:00,530
BELL TOLLS
690
00:37:07,274 --> 00:37:08,530
Yes!
691
00:37:17,385 --> 00:37:20,970
This is still very much
a working business.
692
00:37:20,995 --> 00:37:24,450
But it's open to the public, too,
as a kind of living museum.
693
00:37:25,795 --> 00:37:28,919
I know there's only three
of you now. Yeah.
694
00:37:28,944 --> 00:37:30,410
But back in the old days,
695
00:37:30,435 --> 00:37:33,169
there would have been loads
of people, wouldn't there? Yeah.
696
00:37:33,194 --> 00:37:38,000
So you're looking
at between 150 to 200 men.
697
00:37:38,025 --> 00:37:39,230
So it would be very noisy.
698
00:37:40,755 --> 00:37:42,500
At the other end,
699
00:37:42,525 --> 00:37:45,762
the three strands are taken
and attached to a new machine.
700
00:37:46,936 --> 00:37:47,911
Yep!
701
00:37:49,577 --> 00:37:50,962
Ancl back we go.
702
00:37:53,066 --> 00:37:54,762
Look - there's the rope being made.
703
00:37:56,547 --> 00:37:58,121
My Fitbit's going off the scale
this morning.
704
00:38:01,297 --> 00:38:02,832
Bosh!
705
00:38:02,857 --> 00:38:07,442
We now have our three-strand rope.
706
00:38:07,467 --> 00:38:09,712
All 280 metres of it.
707
00:38:09,737 --> 00:38:11,192
And a pair of aching feet!
708
00:38:22,467 --> 00:38:25,111
But there's no rest for the wicked.
709
00:38:25,136 --> 00:38:27,082
I'm back in Greenwich...
710
00:38:27,107 --> 00:38:28,161
On deck!
711
00:38:28,186 --> 00:38:31,402
...to rejoin the crew
on board the Cutty Sark.
712
00:38:31,427 --> 00:38:34,181
And see how new rope
from the Chatham ropery
713
00:38:34,206 --> 00:38:36,722
is used to maintain
her authentic rigging.
714
00:38:40,136 --> 00:38:41,632
Woodsy, what are you up to?
715
00:38:41,657 --> 00:38:45,111
Uh, we're going to splice an eye
in the halyard for the in jib.
716
00:38:45,136 --> 00:38:46,722
I don't understand any
of those words.
717
00:38:46,747 --> 00:38:47,802
Right, OK.
718
00:38:47,827 --> 00:38:49,632
That's the old one... Yep.
719
00:38:49,657 --> 00:38:51,832
...which is just
a little bit tired now.
720
00:38:51,857 --> 00:38:56,082
So we've got to take that bit out
and put a new one in.
721
00:38:56,107 --> 00:38:58,911
So basically, this splicing
is an elaborate form of knot
722
00:38:58,936 --> 00:39:00,381
in this particular case?
723
00:39:00,406 --> 00:39:02,261
It is. It's like weaving.
724
00:39:02,286 --> 00:39:04,632
You've got your three strands
and all you're doing
725
00:39:04,657 --> 00:39:07,522
is going over and under and over
and under and over and under.
726
00:39:07,547 --> 00:39:12,472
There's our splice, with a bit
of a barge taper on it, we call it.
727
00:39:12,497 --> 00:39:14,991
So, all right, we're sitting
comfortably on the deck doing this,
728
00:39:15,016 --> 00:39:16,882
but do you have to splice up there?
729
00:39:16,907 --> 00:39:18,361
Yes, yes.
730
00:39:18,386 --> 00:39:20,552
Ancl presumably they would have
done that at sea?
731
00:39:20,577 --> 00:39:24,241
Yep. We've got stories of clippers
like this with the...
732
00:39:24,266 --> 00:39:26,832
They'd have sails blown out of them
in storms.
733
00:39:26,857 --> 00:39:30,522
They'd have topmasts and topgallant
masts blown out of them
734
00:39:30,547 --> 00:39:33,682
and you'd have seamen aloft,
re-splicing it.
735
00:39:33,707 --> 00:39:36,192
Cutty Sark's
state-of-the-art rigging
736
00:39:36,217 --> 00:39:39,682
controlled 32,000
square feet of sail.
737
00:39:39,707 --> 00:39:42,911
And that helped her achieve
record-breaking speeds
738
00:39:42,936 --> 00:39:44,602
on the Australian wool run.
739
00:39:46,547 --> 00:39:49,522
Today, Chris is manning the ropes.
740
00:39:49,547 --> 00:39:50,962
So what does this little rack do?
741
00:39:50,987 --> 00:39:55,031
So these ones here control the sails
that are on this mast here. Yeah.
742
00:39:55,056 --> 00:39:59,492
And if you want to let
this rope off here... Yeah.
743
00:39:59,517 --> 00:40:01,031
...just undo the figures of eights.
744
00:40:02,627 --> 00:40:03,911
That's it. Yep.
745
00:40:03,936 --> 00:40:06,722
And now, if you pull on that
with all your might...
746
00:40:13,547 --> 00:40:15,882
If you look behind you, you can
see the arms moving. Which one?
747
00:40:15,907 --> 00:40:17,552
Oh, yeah, I can see it. Yeah.
748
00:40:17,577 --> 00:40:20,722
Blimey! Now I know why the verb
is "to haul".
749
00:40:20,747 --> 00:40:23,472
It really is hauling, isn't it?
750
00:40:23,497 --> 00:40:25,131
There you go, and you brace
around hard there.
751
00:40:25,156 --> 00:40:28,722
Wahey! Blimey, it's heavy,
isn't it? Yep!
752
00:40:28,747 --> 00:40:30,322
That's it. Perfect.
753
00:40:32,217 --> 00:40:35,442
Not all the rigging's
made from synthetic fibres.
754
00:40:35,467 --> 00:40:38,642
Some of Cutty Sark's ropes
are actually steel
755
00:40:38,667 --> 00:40:41,031
- a cutting edge material
for the time -
756
00:40:41,056 --> 00:40:43,642
and need a special kind
of maintenance.
757
00:40:43,667 --> 00:40:46,832
You may wonder why
I've got this full boiler suit on.
758
00:40:46,857 --> 00:40:51,392
Well, it's because that
is dripping with tar.
759
00:40:56,747 --> 00:40:58,241
So what do I have to do?
760
00:40:58,266 --> 00:41:01,031
So all of this is steel wire.
761
00:41:01,056 --> 00:41:03,312
And the last thing we want that
to do is rust.
762
00:41:03,337 --> 00:41:05,952
So we treat it with the
Stockholm tar.
763
00:41:05,977 --> 00:41:10,361
So we literally, as the others are,
rag it on.
764
00:41:10,386 --> 00:41:13,642
There we go. And you'll see it go
nice and shiny where it is.
765
00:41:13,667 --> 00:41:15,882
My shipmates are young apprentices,
766
00:41:15,907 --> 00:41:18,522
who one day will take up the baton
of looking after
767
00:41:18,547 --> 00:41:20,462
this slice of our heritage.
768
00:41:20,487 --> 00:41:21,772
Maddy?
769
00:41:21,797 --> 00:41:24,051
We know each other, don't we?
770
00:41:24,076 --> 00:41:25,692
Yeah, we do.
771
00:41:25,717 --> 00:41:29,662
I gave her an archaeology award
when she was a little girl.
772
00:41:29,687 --> 00:41:31,301
I think I was about 13 in York.
773
00:41:32,567 --> 00:41:35,381
And now you've ended up putting
oily tar
774
00:41:35,406 --> 00:41:37,381
on the rigging of ships!
775
00:41:37,406 --> 00:41:40,332
I like to think it's still
a little bit linked to archaeology.
776
00:41:40,357 --> 00:41:41,692
It's great fun.
777
00:41:43,047 --> 00:41:45,222
What do I do when my rag
runs out of oil?
778
00:41:45,247 --> 00:41:48,312
Well, you'd simply apply a little
bit more and keep on tarring.
779
00:41:48,337 --> 00:41:51,002
Oh, from my little thing.
780
00:41:51,027 --> 00:41:52,832
I'm not quite sure how you do this.
781
00:41:52,857 --> 00:41:54,161
Right, hang on...
782
00:41:54,186 --> 00:41:57,392
I'm going to leave my rag here.
Oh, you do it expertly!
783
00:41:57,417 --> 00:41:59,722
Oh, lovely stuff.
784
00:42:04,747 --> 00:42:07,802
There's a pretty sticky way
to end the day.
785
00:42:07,827 --> 00:42:10,882
But having met all the young people
who work here
786
00:42:10,907 --> 00:42:13,592
and having seen their dedication,
787
00:42:13,617 --> 00:42:17,392
I've got to say that I'm quite
confident that the Cutty Sark
788
00:42:17,417 --> 00:42:20,882
will be in pretty good hands
for some years to come yet.
789
00:42:22,617 --> 00:42:26,111
And I'm sure that the Thames
will continue to play a role
790
00:42:26,136 --> 00:42:30,082
in helping the best of our past
survive and thrive.
791
00:42:37,337 --> 00:42:38,802
Next time...
792
00:42:38,827 --> 00:42:42,802
It's like a floating
Battersea power station.
793
00:42:42,827 --> 00:42:45,002
I try the cut and thrust
of the market.
794
00:42:45,027 --> 00:42:46,952
You've got to take six
at a time, Tony!
795
00:42:46,977 --> 00:42:48,312
He only gave me three!
796
00:42:48,337 --> 00:42:50,722
You'd better stick to that
acting game, I tell you.
797
00:42:50,747 --> 00:42:53,122
Meet an aspiring Paralympic rower.
798
00:42:53,147 --> 00:42:54,872
Get set... Go!
799
00:42:56,256 --> 00:42:58,802
Ancl win the oldest man
in the yard contest.
800
00:42:58,827 --> 00:43:01,111
How old are you? 72.
801
00:43:01,136 --> 00:43:02,512
I'm 73.
802
00:43:02,537 --> 00:43:04,281
Oh, well, I'll bend down, then!
Yeah!
803
00:43:08,386 --> 00:43:11,802
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