The BBC has this week filmed a TV documentary on Burnham-On-Sea beach that explors the history behind the chunks of the historic Mulberry Harbour that lie on the sands.
During this week’s filming, the crew interviewed Gordon Rankine, pictured above, whose grandfather Sir Bruce White KBE was part of the team who designed the Mulberry Harbours that were so crucial during World War II.
“Sir Bruce was a Brigadier during the war who held the post of Director of Ports at the War Office. He was part of the team involved in planning and designing the Mulberry harbours,” said a spokeswoman.
“He had responsibility for the development of the four-legged floating pontoons which were used to supply Allied forces in France after the D-Day landings in Normandy.”
Remnants of the Mulberry Harbour were deposited on Burnham beach near the low lighthouse at the end of the war, as pictured right, and the BBC used these as the backdrop during this week’s filming.
A series of four-minute slots are to be broadcast on 6th June as part of the BBC’s coverage of the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings.
Sedgemoor District Council spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It’s excellent news that Burnham will be featured so strongly in such an important piece of television. We were delighted to be able to co-operate with the BBC to ensure that the piece of short filming went smoothly.”
