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Todd
was born in Walthamstow East London in 1962. His school days were mis-spent
gazing out of the classroom window day dreaming or skipping lessons altogether.
Today he lives his dream life in the Isles of Scilly. Working as a carpenter
on the islands he regularly downs tools to go hunting for shipwrecks and
treasure. So not much has changed. Taking up diving in Dalgety Buswell
Diving Club (Now know as BSAC 955) in Northampton in 1979, Todd was Diving
Officer of this BSAC branch for over ten years and personally trained
many others to sport dive in his local area. He dived all round the coast
of England for 20 years before moving to Scilly in 1999. This was as a
direct result of being one of the salvage divers who recovered cargo and
other salvageable material, off the wreck of the Cita lost at Scilly in
1997.
Todd’s
underwater discoveries in the Islands since moving to Scilly include:
5th
May 1999 - The stern of 'HMS
Colossus' lost near Samson Island in 1798. The site was later protected
by a Government Order after his wife Carmen discovered (in May 2001) a
huge wooden carving of a neo classical warrior buried on the site. (see
Western Morning News - 20th June 2001, National newspapers and English
Heritage report November 2003)
May
2002, Innisidgen Gun Site - Seven very old cannons.
March 2004, the remains of a pirate ship - believed to
be called 'The John' which was lost in 1645. (see Cornishman 28th October
2004)
4th
June 2005 what is now known as the Wheels wreck; a circa 1850
unidentified shipwreck which, due to its links to the Unesco World Heritage
Site in Cornwall, was protected by the government in 2006. (see English
Heritage Report September 2006)
Also
in 2005 - underwater peat bed site intermingled with tree roots
(discovered along with friend Phillip Roberts), that helped spark Project
Lyonnesse -a project funded by English Heritage in 2009. (see Cornishman
24th September 2009) and picture below.
2007
Wreck of the
Nancy Packet (with friend Ed Cumming). This disaster claimed the life
of famous Actress and opera singer Ann Cargill in 1784. This is an ongoing
project that Todd now dives alone hoping to find Ann’s lost fortune.
(See Cornishman 18th September 2008 also most national newspapers and
ITV
news item). |
Todd
is a published author and has two titles currently available:
Wreck of Colossus &
Ghosts of Rosevear
-and the Wreck of the Nancy packet. The latter, by request,
was entered for the 2009 Theatre book prize - winner
to be decided in May 2010.
A third title is currently underway - watch this space for updates!
Todd's other interests include: producing site plans of local
historic wreck sites, all of which are copied by the National
Monuments record office - the originals are kept in the Isles
of Scilly Museum; Founder member of IMAG (the Island's Maritime
Archeological Group); fills display cases in the local Museum
with artefacts from famous local shipwrecks - all raised by him
and given over for public display (was also a Trustee for a number
of years); researching
local shipwreck history or composing poetry; member of the Isles
of Scilly Coastguard and is even main vocalist in a local band.
Todd
broadcasts a weekly local shipwreck related slot for the local
Radio Station- Radio
Scilly, and has appeared on TV programs Time Team and Island
Parish. He has also been featured in numerous radio shows including
BBC
Radio 3’s Early Music Show with Lucy Skeaping.
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Book
Links:
www.ghostsofrosevear.co.uk
www.hmscolossus.co.uk
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