John Robinson, Chairman of Council; Mrs Gill Drewry; Professor David Drewry, Vice Chancellor; HRH Prince Andrew, the Duke of York

His Royal Highness Prince Andrew the Duke of York recently visited Blaydes House – the new home of the University’s Maritime Historical Studies Centre – where he attended a seminar given by one of his former lecturers.

Dr Eric Grove, a senior lecturer in politics and international studies at the University, taught Prince Andrew when he studied at Dartmouth Naval College in 1980.

During his visit to Blaydes House, Prince Andrew met the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor David J Drewry; his wife, Gill; and the Chairman of Council, John Robinson.

Dr David Starkey, the Director of the Maritime Historical Studies Centre, briefed Prince Andrew on Blaydes House and the University’s maritime vision, and the Prince also attended a presentation about a significant international collaboration on the history of marine animal populations.

HRH Prince Andrew, the Duke of York meets Hugh Blaydes

The University bought Blaydes House for just £1 – and marked the purchase by framing a £1 coin and presenting it to the house’s previous owners, the Georgian Society for East Yorkshire.

Blaydes House is the former home of Benjamin Blaydes, who commissioned the building of the Bethia – the ship that was later to be renamed the Bounty.

Although the University paid only a nominal amount for Blaydes House, it has since raised nearly £500,000 through a fund-raising appeal to develop the building as the new home of its Maritime Historical Studies Centre.