Former Prime Minister Theresa May made the most of her new-found leisure time with a sail along the Beaulieu River and a visit to Buckler’s Hard over the bank holiday weekend.
Following her recent resignation, the Rt Hon Theresa May MP has more time to indulge in her own pastimes and arrived on a Sunseeker yacht which took a berth at the marina at the bottom of Buckler’s Hard High Street late Saturday afternoon.
Mrs May and her husband Philip enjoyed afternoon tea on deck, overlooking the unspoilt haven of the Beaulieu River, before being given a personal tour of the once thriving shipbuilding village where ships for Nelson’s fleet at Trafalgar were built in the 18th century.
Guided tour
The Hon Mrs Mary Montagu-Scott, who is the sister of Lord Montagu, Director of the Maritime Museum and Commodore of the Beaulieu River Sailing Club, gave a guided tour around the Maritime Museum and the rest of the village to tell Buckler’s Hard’s remarkable story.
Mr and Mrs May are interested in British history and had recently been reading about the role that Buckler’s Hard played during WWII. They have both said that they thoroughly enjoyed their time here and their visit to the Maritime Museum.
Shipwrights cottage
Their tour also included exploring the Shipwright’s Cottage and Chapel of St Mary’s, with its smugglers’ cellar beside the altar.
The Beaulieu River is one of the few privately owned rivers in the world and the custodianship of the Montagu family over four centuries has kept its unique character and natural charm, making it one of the most picturesque locations on the south coast and a popular boating destination close to the sailing centres of Cowes, Lymington and Hamble