As a freight forwarding company, we move products locally, nationally and internationally on behalf of our customers.
No two days are the same and no two consignments are the same. We’ve shipped everything from documents and agricultural products to cranes and human ashes, along with everything else in between.
Sometimes, we even get asked to be involved in projects of national and international significance.
Take for example the time when we were appointed to handle the shipping of a larger than life sculpture of UK explorer Captain Matthew Flinders to the other side of the world.
We were tasked with moving the bronze memorial of Flinders, who was renowned for becoming the first known person to navigate the entire coast of Australia, from the studio of Shropshire artist Mark Richards to Flinders University in Adelaide.
The two-metre high bronze sculpture weighed in at 750kg and was the second to be produced by Ludlow-based Mark.
The original, commissioned by the Government of South Australia and is sited at Euston Station in London, under which Matthew Flinders is buried.
Transporting the sculpture required expertise such as ours to make sure it arrived down under safely and in one piece.
That was four years ago now and we have since shipped hundreds, if not thousands, more consignments around the globe on behalf of our customers.
Naturally, in an industry which demands our attention 24/7, our participation in moving the Captain Matthew Flinders sculpture had slipped to the back of our minds as we focus on new tasks in hand.
That was however, until last week, when news broke that archeologists working on the HS2 high-speed rail line project in London had identified the explorer’s remains – buried over 200 years ago.
Work began in October to explore St James’s Gardens, where the station for the HS2 rail route will be built and one of 60 archeological sites to be surveyed between London and Birmingham ahead of the rail construction.
Captain Flinders was always known to be buried near the station it was unclear whether his final resting place would ever be known.
However last week, archeologists involved in the dig made a momentous discovery when they uncovered his coffin and remains.
Although happening 150 miles away from us here in Telford we read with interest the latest revelations surrounding Flinders and it brought back fond memories of our involvement in this particular shipping project.
Our team has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to handling, packaging and shipping precious works of art. For more information on how we may be able to help your business do get in touch.
