Winter 2018

Seafarers UK 24 Peaks Challenge – hot, hilly and huge respect25 teams took on the Seafarers UK 24 Peaks Challenge this year raising an amazing £100,000 for the charity.

A very special day for Merchant Navy seafarersRecord-breaking campaign raises awareness of our island nation’s ongoing dependence on Merchant Navy seafarers.

www.seafarers.uk

Fishing now – and in the future

Also in this issue:

Continued on Page 4

Page 9 Page 12

‘Fishing for a Future’ research report, commissioned by Seafarers UK, was launched in June following a survey of 41 UK fishing ports and harbours. The report highlighted that over 48% of sampled fishing ports are characterised by low incomes; 32% suffer housing deprivation and over 50% of survey respondents experienced characteristics of health deprivation.

The report was welcomed by UK Fisheries Minister George Eustice who provided a foreword for the research and joined us at our June launch event to speak to senior fishing representatives about the Government’s White Paper plans for reforming the UK’s fisheries post Brexit.

Support of our research from the Fisheries Minister, as well as many key players in the fishing industries [yes, not industry] was an indication of its importance in raising the debate on the health, welfare and safety of fishing around our island nation. Fishermen from Dreckly Fish, Newlyn, Cornwall

With no government funding, Seafarers UK relies

on the generosity of others to help make a real

difference to people’s lives across the Merchant

Navy, Fishing Fleets, Royal Navy and Royal

Marines.

Legacies are therefore crucial to every aspect

of our work. By leaving a gift to Seafarers UK

in your will, you will help to support seafarers

and their families who find themselves in need

of essential support at difficult times.

Leave a lasting legacy to our seafarersFIND OUT MORE...

To request our legacy pack, please

call 020 7932 0000

or email seafarers@seafarers.uk

‘I want to help provide a safety net for future seafarers and their families.’As an island nation, we rely on seafarers who risk their lives, put food on our plates and carry vital supplies to and from our shores.

www. seafarers.uk/leave-a-legacy

Our lottery supports seafarers in need and their familiesJust £1 to playEnter today for your chance to win up to £10,000

Don’t miss out - join now! Call: 0870 050 5891 Visit: www.theforceslottery.com

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The newsletter of Seafarers UK www.seafarers.uk • 3

Welcome to what might seem like a rather fishy edition of Seaview! This reflects one of our major priorities over the past year, and is proof of how our philosophy of building on objective research with strategic planning, carefully targeted action and partnership working can begin to produce tangible results far beyond our original investment. In short, we’re making your money work harder!We have long thought that there was much

understated need among our inshore

fisheries, and the excellent work of the

Cornwall Rural Communities Charity

(despite the name, they worked nationwide!)

identified some clear areas where relatively

cheap interventions could produce really

meaningful results in financial sustainability,

safety and health. Whatever the final

outcome of Brexit, we certainly need to help

liberate European funding where possible.

While all this obviously takes time and

resource, there are still many other nautical

areas of need in our orbit, and we have

taken care to ensure our normal service

continues across the community. There

is never enough money to do everything

that we might wish, so targeting grants with

precision becomes ever more important;

debate continues as to the best way

to assess and report impact, and how

to encourage our fellow funders in the

Maritime Charities Group to do the same.

I think that one of the most satisfying

aspects of my lengthy spell at the helm

of Seafarers UK is the way that the many

maritime charities have come to work more

as a team, harnessing their own areas of

expertise towards a more coordinated

whole. This is to be encouraged, and there

is already an exciting health partnership

beginning to deliver physical checks and

dentistry to isolated fishing ports where

flexibility is so essential to match the tides

and the shoals of herring.

While bringing monetary and other help

to seafarers and their families in need will

always be our primary task, there has also

been much going on in our other hats

of campaigning for a strong and publicly

recognised UK maritime industry, and

specifically encouraging our young people

to recognise the huge range of challenging

jobs that it offers. As Chairman of the

national Careers Promotion Forum, we

work closely with Maritime UK to present

the whole employment spectrum from the

traditional RN and MN pathways through to

workboats, leisure and superyachts. This

year’s emphasis has been very much on

engineering, and getting more women into

our maritime workforce – so if you know any

potential engineers, spread the word!

Finally, and while our 2017 Centenary

year seems a long time ago now, the

celebrations ran concurrently with a

strategic review of our whole operation,

including financial reserves, internal

structures and overall readiness to face

the next hundred years. While we remain

in very good shape and confident of the

future, there are always efficiencies to be

made. We have now seen the merging of

our executive and finance departments,

with consequent personnel changes; all

is now settling down nicely, and of course

our primary aim has been to continue an

uninterrupted service to our thousands

of beneficiaries – and I think we have

achieved that!

With, as ever, my ongoing and huge

thanks to you all for your support.

Welcome

WelcomeCommodore Barry Bryant, CVO RN, Director General, Seafarers UK

The Annual National Service for SeafarersThis year’s National Service took place in St Paul’s Cathedral on 10 October.

Since 1905, this event has paid tribute to all

members of the seafaring profession, past

and present, and given encouragement

to young people who are the seafarers

of tomorrow. This year’s service paid

special tribute to the 200th anniversary

of the Sailors’ Society and the 175th

anniversary of Queen Victoria Seamen’s

Rest, whilst retrospectively acknowledging

the 2017 centenaries of Pangbourne

College, Seafarers UK and the formation

of The Women’s Royal Naval Service with

representatives included within the service.

We would like to extend a special thanks

to our longest-serving usher, Mr Philip

Truett, who retired this year after first

ushering for the service in 1963.

4 • SEAVIEW | WINTER 2018 • HELPING SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 1917

Latest news

Continued from front page

Fishing now – and in the future‘Fishing for a Future’ research launch was followed up with the submission of Seafarers UK’s response to DEFRA’s ‘Fisheries White Paper: Sustainable Fisheries for Future Generations’ in September, that argued that more must be done to ensure the health, safety and welfare of UK fishermen who risk their lives to put food on our tables.While Seafarers UK has welcomed

Government’s inclusion of safety

in the White Paper, we believe that

the Government’s future policy on

fisheries management should ensure

that fishermen’s lives, and their safety

at sea, are valued just as much as the

future sustainability of fish stocks.

Seafarers UK is committed to supporting

the health, welfare and safety of the

fishermen of today and the future.

We share the ambition of the Fishing

Industry Safety Group and many

others that fishing fatalities at sea and

in port should be reduced to zero.

Following this important phase of political

influencing work, Seafarers UK’s Grants

Team took the opportunity to visit some

of our ‘fishing’ beneficiaries in Cornwall.

Deborah Layde, Seafarers UK’s Grants

Director, and Tina Barnes, Grants Manager,

first stopped at Newlyn, a large fishing port

hosting the largest number of commercial

fishermen in England (959 according to

Seafish 2017 latest statistics). Its economy

is largely dependent on the harbour and

associated fishing industry. With many

local fishermen experiencing occupational

injuries and health issues, ranging from

arthritis to musculoskeletal problems, and

directly caused by a life at sea, a specialist

physio service, funded by Seafarers’

Hospital Society, has been established

at Harbourside to provide a number of

therapeutic treatments to local fishermen.

Depending on the outcome of a future

funding application, the aim is to establish

a similar service in eight other ports, as

part of a broader Health and Wellbeing

Development Programme for fishermen.

Their next meeting was with Andrew

Pascoe, a local Newlyn fisherman, as well

as Chairman of the National Federation

of Fishermen’s Organisations and board

member of the Cornish Fish Producers

Organisation. Deborah bravely climbed

aboard Andrew’s 18-metre hake netter,

named Ajax, to meet the crew. In a wide

ranging conversation with Andrew and

his crew, the need

to recruit and retain

the next generation

of fishermen was

identified as a priority.

Their journey continued

to Seafood Cornwall

Training hub, where they

received an overview

of the training provided

to local fishermen.

There was also an

opportunity to see the

mobile training unit with

outboard motor that

Seafarers UK provided

a grant for back in 2017.

The unit enables training to be taken to,

and delivered along the coast, wherever

fishermen may be working. A grant for new

training equipment and development of

a three-day taster training course for new

entrants was also awarded earlier this year.

The Team also met with Fishermen’s

Mission’s Superintendent Keith Dickson,

who was on duty at Newlyn Harbour’s

Fishermen’s Shack, and spoke about

his role in promoting Kernow Credit

Union to local fishermen. Julian Waring,

Fishermen’s Mission’s Fundraising

Manager was spotted in St Ives – driving

a car funded in partnership with Seafarers

UK, Trinity House and the Merchant

Navy Welfare Board as part of a Port

Vehicle Replacement Programme.

The next stop was Sennen Cove, a small

and remote fishing community, close

to Land’s End. It consists of just eight

fibreglass fishing vessels all under ten

metres in size and using static gear to

catch fish. The towing of these vessels

up a steep beach places a lot of wear

and tear on the hull and results in annual

maintenance to ensure the vessels

remain seaworthy. The harbour has

a boat maintenance shed which also

provides a meeting place for active and

present fishermen to exchange skills and

knowledge. Seafarers UK provided a

small grant to purchase a wall-mounted

dehumidifier and heater, essential in

winter, and which also enable maintenance

work to be completed more quickly.

In Redruth, the Team met with Elaine

Coleman, a volunteer director of Kernow

Credit Union Limited. Seafarers UK

has awarded a grant of £20,000 to

provide a Loan Guarantee Fund for

the Union to make instant loans to

fishermen who require match funding for

European Maritime Fisheries Funding

grants. Ten fishermen have already

signed up to membership of the credit

union and seven of these had so far

borrowed over £35,000; of which

£16,000 has already been repaid.

It may seem that there is already a lot

of fishing funding activity taking place,

but there is still so much more that

we can, and will, do in the future.

The ‘Fishing for a Future’ report and Seafarers UK’s full response to the Fisheries White Paper can be read on our website: www.seafarers.uk

Grants Team with Andrew Pascoe, owner of Ajax, and Alan Dwan, Ajax Skipper

The newsletter of Seafarers UK www.seafarers.uk • 5

Latest news

Seafarers UK has been working with

partners to deliver a series of projects

funded by the Covenant Trust Fund

focussed on older Merchant Navy

and Royal Fleet Auxiliary seafarers.

Stage one of the projects to build

new supported housing for seafaring

veterans at Mariners’ Park, Wallasey

has now been completed. Two rental

apartments for veterans will also

become available early next year.

Our project research team at the

institute of Public Care at Oxford

Brookes University have published

an interim project report.

A tribute to Robina WhitehornThis autumn saw the retirement of one

of Seafarers UK’s absolute mainstays.

Robina Whitehorn joined us in 2006 to

help the Fundraising department give

a more personal link to some of our

more generous supporters, but six years

ago she made the transition to lead the

Executive Team (and latterly as Executive

Director since 2016) where she has been

a tower of efficiency, common-sense

and good humour. As one might expect

after years of naval training, she does not

suffer fools particularly gladly, but she

does it in an incredibly gracious way!

A lengthy career in the WRNS saw

her achieve the rank of Lieutenant

Commander, with interesting spells of

duty making sure that very senior people

were in the right place at the right time

with the right brief – excellent training

for successfully keeping us on track!

With the highest of personal standards

herself, Robina has been a huge champion

of the PQASSO quality assurance

process, ensuring our internal paperwork

and processes are at the highest level.

She has been the architect of the

accompanying Continuous Improvement

Process, trying to make us ever better!

If all this sounds a bit serious, what we shall

really miss is Robina’s ever-ready sense

of fun, her intensely human and practical

approach to the inevitable HR problems,

and her ability to match hard work with

the need for relaxation. Words cannot

express the debt that we owe Robina;

we wish her the very best of a long and

happy retirement, and hope very much

that he’ll keep in touch with Seafarers UK.

Their interviews with seafaring

veterans indicated that one of the

most striking differences between

the responses of those who

completed a survey and those

who were interviewed face-to-

face or by phone was the number

of respondents who reported

an impact of their armed forces

experience on their mental health.

Only 4.4% of survey respondents

(17 of 387 veterans) identified an

impact compared with 46% (22 of 48

veterans) of interviewees. We think

that the reason for this is likely

to be veterans’ understandable

initial reluctance to discuss such

a sensitive and often painful aspect

of their life – until assured of an

interviewer’s understanding and

confidence. The report contains

many compelling case studies of

seafarer veterans’ experience of war.

For more information about this project please visit:

www.seafarers.uk/about-us/partners/aged-veterans-fund

All enquiries about these and other properties at Mariners’ Park can be made by phoning the Nautilus Welfare Fund on 0151 346 8840 or writing to: The Nautilus Welfare Fund, Trinity House Hub, 21, Webster Avenue, Mariners’ Park, Wallasey, CH44 0AE.

Aged Veterans Fund Latest Update on Merchant Navy Veterans Projects

One of the two new bungalows at Mariners’ Park, Wallasey

Robina Whitehorn during her time with The Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS)

Liverpool maritime community gets stuck inThe Propeller Club Liverpool raised over £1,000 from two events for Seafarers UK this year. The first was a hotly contested Maritime 5-a-side football tournament. Sponsored by Fort Recruitment, the competition was played out by the banks of the river Mersey at the Firwood Waterloo Rugby Club. Ten teams were fielded by companies such as KVH Media, Offshore Painting Services, Nautilus, Accu-Right Engineering, AB Ports, MIRIS International, Fort Recruitment and Bibby Marine. MIRIS International eventually fought off the tough challenge posed by Fort Recruitment to take the prize.

To mark Seafarers Awareness Week in June, the Propeller Club Liverpool

also hosted their annual summer maritime quiz. The evening was well attended and in the end a joint KVH and Lloyds Register Liverpool team outshone the rest with their searing intelligence and expansive knowledge.

President of Propeller Club Liverpool, Steven Jones said, ‘We are hugely proud of the local maritime community in supporting the incredible work of Seafarers UK’. He added, ‘While many of our members’ bodies hurt from the football, and their heads ached from the quiz, it feels great to have raised so much money for seafarers young and old, and their families too.’

The Propeller Club Liverpool is only the second branch of the global maritime association to be established in the UK since the London chapter opened in 1936. The Propeller Club

as an organisation is dedicated to the promotion of the maritime industry, commerce and global trade through its many programs and partnering activities.

6 • SEAVIEW | WINTER 2018 • HELPING SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 1917

Latest news

Support for cadet scheme anniversaryOver 100 people attended a special celebratory dinner at Trinity House on 3 July (pictured below) to mark the 25th anniversary of the Maritime London Officer Cadet Scholarship (MLOCS). The evening was held with the support of the membership body, Maritime London, and both charities involved (MLOCS and Seafarers UK) benefited from the monies raised on the night.

One of Seafarers UK’s Objects is the ‘Education and training of people of any age to prepare for work or service at sea’, which is why it was happy to help organise the event. MLOCS itself provides the funds to enable young people to undertake the training required to become a Merchant Navy deck, engine or electro-technical officer, linking promising young people with maritime ambitions to City-based firms willing to sponsor their training.

The Lord Mountevans (Trustee of Seafarers UK and Chair of Maritime London) spoke after dinner on the achievements of MLOCS and the careful cultivation of the scheme’s close links with City-based maritime firms. Tim Howse of Gard UK, who was one of the very first MLOCS cadets before later pursuing a successful maritime career ashore, then spoke about how the MLOCS opportunity and experience had impacted so positively on his career and life.

The auctioneer on the night, Phil Parry of Spinnaker Global, then closed proceedings by successfully auctioning off four different donated items and experiences. One of these included a painting of the Oriana entering Sydney harbour in 1960 by Grenville Cottingham, bought by an individual who as a young boy had emigrated with his family to Australia on the Oriana that same year.

‘We are hugely proud of the local maritime community in

supporting the incredible work of Seafarers UK.’

Steven Jones, President, Propeller Club Liverpool

The winning team of MIRIS International enjoying their position of inaugural football champions.

Grants news

Maritime Lifeline In 2018 to-date, Seafarers UK awarded £1,305,438 in grants, reaching 47 organisations, including £81,276 awarded from the Merchant Navy Fund.

From Seafarers UK:• CHIRP Maritime - £20,000

• Coastal Producer Organisation - £30,000

• Engineering in Motion - £5,000

• Fishermen’s Mission / Seafarers Hospital Society - £150,000

• Fishermen’s Welfare Alliance - £60,000

• Great Yarmouth Seafarers Centre - £4,989

• Islay & Jura Community Enterprises - £5,000

• Nautilus Welfare Fund - £57,280

• Orkney Fisheries Association - £29,572

• Plymouth Communities Befriending Consortium - £4,100

• Queen Victoria Seamen’s Rest - £1,000

• Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League - £4,127

• Royal Liverpool Seamen’s Orphan Institution - £60,000

• Royal Navy & Royal Marines Children’s Fund - £100,000

• Smallpeice Trust - £11,000

• SSAFA - £5,000

• The South Atlantic Medal Association 1982 - £5,000

• Veterans Scotland - £5,000

From The Merchant Navy Fund:• Age UK Wirral - £27,176

• Manx Marine Society - £3,500

• Maritime London Officer Cadet Scholarship - £10,000

• Restore Support Network - £6,600

• Sailors’ Children’s Society - £5,000

• Scottish Nautical Welfare Society - £20,000

• SSAFA - £5,000

• Veterans Outreach Support - £10,000

Latest Grants Awarded:

42% FISHING FLEET

31% MERCHANT

NAVY

18% YOUTH

9% ROYAL NAVY

% of 2018 grants awarded by sector

The newsletter of Seafarers UK www.seafarers.uk • 7

42%31%

18%

9%

£60,000 grant to Fishermen’s Welfare AllianceAn innovative and collaborative organisation ‘Fishermen’s Welfare Alliance’ was formed this year to play a key role in the development and funding of solutions identified by fishermen that will provide the greatest impact and support for the UK’s fishing fleet. Still in its formation period, the Alliance has started to gain significant recognition as a powerful and well-represented force in the health, safety and welfare issues of the fishing industry. The Alliance seeks to improve transparency in the UK fishing supply chain by using a system of human and labour rights due diligence, compliant with relevant national and international legislation.

Our grant will contribute towards core funding costs to recruit one member of staff, who would provide operations management services for the newly formed Alliance.

£174,000 grant to Cornwall Rural Community Charity (CRCC) Collaborative funding partners Seafarers UK, Trinity House and

The Fishmongers’ Company have awarded £174,000 jointly to CRCC to support a nationwide support programme (the ‘Animateur Programme’) for fishermen. This has come as a result of the research commissioned by Seafarers UK into the needs of UK coastal fishing communities in 2017. Through that work it became clear that larger ports, and the majority of larger boats, have a well-established infrastructure and are profitable businesses, most of which are aware of current opportunities for investment funding. The challenge, however, is to make those opportunities a reality, which requires significant intervention on the ground.

Our grant will help provide a UK- wide animateur programme to help fishermen and fishing communities to access funds and business support, with animateurs supporting fishermen and coastal communities to develop projects and initiatives that are eligible for full or partial funding through the European Maritime Fisheries Fund.

£34,296 grant to Silver LineSeafarers’ Link was transferred from Community Network to Silver Line,

Continued on page 8

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Please return your completed form to: Seafarers UK 8 Hatherley Street LONDON SW1P 2QT

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Please tick this box for more information.

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UK. I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current tax year than

the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations it is my responsibility to pay any difference. I understand the charity will

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Please indicate below how you would like us to contact you in the future.

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• This Guarantee is offered by all Banks and Building Societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits.• If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit Seafarers UK will notify

you ten working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed.• If you request Seafarers UK to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given

to you at the time of the request.• If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by Seafarers UK or your Bank or Building Society,

you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your Bank or Building Society. If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Seafarers UK asks you to.

• You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your Bank or Building Society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify Seafarers UK.

To spread the cost of your donation and help us to save on administration costs, you can set up a regular donation by Direct Debit. Regular income also means we can plan our work more effectively and will guarantee our commitment to support those in the maritime community that truly need our help.

Make your gift worth 25% more with Gift Aid. Gift Aid is reclaimed by the charity from the tax you pay for the current tax

year. Your address is needed to identify you as a current UK taxpayer.

I want to Gift Aid this donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past four years to Seafarers

UK. I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current tax year than

the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations it is my responsibility to pay any difference. I understand the charity will

reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I have given.

I am not a UK taxpayer and I am unable to take part in the Gift Aid Scheme.

Data Protection

We really value your support and would like to keep you up to date about our campaigns and work in the future.

Please indicate below how you would like us to contact you in the future.

By post by telephone by email

If you do not wish to be contacted in the future, please email seafarers@seafarers.uk or call 020 7932 0000.

Seafarers UK complies with the Data Protection Act 2018. Information on the use of personal data by Seafarers UK

is available from: Seafarers UK, 8 Hatherley Street, London SW1P 2QT

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The newsletter of Seafarers UK www.seafarers.uk • 8

Grants news

Making a difference - Troon Fishermen’s Centre

8 • SEAVIEW | WINTER 2018 • HELPING SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 1917

James  has been fishing all his life. Brought up in a fishermen’s family, with his father spending most of his working life at sea, he joined him straight after leaving school and never looked back.

‘My father first took me to sea when I was about six and I got hooked. It was the only job I ever wanted to do. But it’s something you need to be born and bred into and requires a bit of grit and determination.’

James’s working week varies hugely dependent on the weather, the catch, or if something goes wrong with the boat. ‘When you have a good trip and you and your crew come home with a good wage, everybody is happy and it’s very rewarding. But then

maybe the next week you get poor weather or things are going wrong on the boat. It can be soul-destroying.’

It can be dangerous too. A few years ago, James had an incident when he got caught up in one of the nets and dragged over the side. He was very lucky not to lose any limbs or to have any lasting damage, but it was scary. ‘I saw people losing limbs, some people have even lost their lives. But there are still men willing to do the job and take that risk.’

Having a local Fishermen’s Centre makes a huge difference to the fishermen. ‘We are very lucky to have the Fishermen’s Mission Centre down here in Troon. The Centre is open 24/7 and you can come in after a rough day and have a

shower, or watch a bit of telly in peace and quiet without an engine running, without the gulls squawking. It’s great to know that when something happens the Mission superintendents are always there to help, whether with some visa paperwork for foreign crew members, or if there’s been a fatality or injury aboard one of the boats.’

The modern mini-Centre in Troon was developed with the assistance of Seafarers UK and Merchant Navy Welfare Board funding and provides key resources to local fishermen and migrant workers based on fishing boats utilising the harbour. The service provision also includes a wide range of welfare support including emergency help and grants, transportation to hospital visits, relief from isolation and loneliness, debt management, as well as promotion of the importance of sea safety and the use of Personal Flotation Devices when fishing to reduce injuries and save lives.

Grants News Continued

founded by Dame Esther Rantzen, earlier this year and the work aims to improve the well-being of ex-seafarers and their dependants, helping them to actively engage with other seafarers via regular friendship telephone calls facilitated by trained volunteers.

Our grant will fund the salary and ongoing costs for a part-time Seafarers’ Link manager who would recruit, train and support five additional volunteers and five seafaring community champions to increase awareness of the service.

£20,000 grant to CHIRP Charitable TrustOriginally established in 1996 as a Government initiative in respect of air safety, CHIRP Charitable Trust

added its maritime programme to the organisation’s work in 2003, at the request of the Department for Transport. Funded by the Government up until 2011 when the austerity cuts kicked in, the Trust’s global maritime programme has been supported by a number of independent funders since then.

CHIRP Maritime accepts safety-related reports from anyone involved in the

maritime industries, which are then validated and reviewed with relevant agencies with the aim of finding a resolution. Any issues raised and lessons identified are then published in their quarterly newsletter and compiled into an Annual Digest, with safety videos made to accompany key lessons. These are then made freely available from the CHIRP Maritime website (www.chirpmaritime.org/videos) and used by any organisation or individual for the enhancement and improvement of the safety of the seafarer.

Our grant will provide core funding for the maintenance of this vital function of CHIRP Maritime for a period of one year and would benefit seafarers and their families in the UK and Commonwealth countries.

‘The purpose of our safety message is to enhance the lives of

seafarers and to ensure a safe return to their families after every tour.’Captain Jeff Parfitt, Director (Maritime), CHIRP Charitable Trust

‘I saw people losing limbs, some people have even lost their

lives. But there are still men willing to do the job and take that risk.’

9 • SEAVIEW | WINTER 2018 • HELPING SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 1917The newsletter of Seafarers UK www.seafarers.uk • 9

Fundraising newsFundraising news

25 teams took on the Seafarers UK 24 Peaks Challenge in July. With every peak being over 2,400 feet, this was certainly not to be treated as a walk in the park.The summer heatwave was an obstacle on its own and teams prepared themselves and faced the challenge with great camaraderie. The challenge lived up to its reputation and some walkers took the brave and sensible decision to come down from the mountain early or not embark on day two.

Every walker tested and pushed their personal limits and returned triumphant. For those who completed the full 24 Peaks Challenge even greater congratulations were in order. With huge smiles and hugs across the teams, and from the organisers and Seafarers UK alike, the scale of what they achieved started to set in.

First-timers, Team Spinlock (pictured below), had this to say following the event: ‘The support Global Challenge UK and Seafarers UK gave throughout the process was vital to our success. Our main goal was to start and finish together,

supporting each other through the highs and lows to finish the 24 Peaks route. The whole process has certainly brought our company closer together, and we are sure more employees will partake in the future as we have proved it can be done!’

Presentation of the awards saw Steamship Mutual take the Top Fundraiser Award for raising over £10,000, and Teekay Foundation won the Ambassador Award with five teams in attendance. The 25 teams collectively secured over £100,000 for Seafarers UK.

We are extremely grateful to Heidmar for their sponsorship towards the event, and to every team and their individual members for their commitment to the event through their training, preparation and fantastic fundraising. The funds will be used towards providing vital support to seafarers in need and their families.

We would also like to thank Global Challenge UK for such a fantastic event and look forward to creating another successful event in 2019.

Latest fundraising news & activities

Dates for next year’s event are 6-7 July. If your corporate team are interested in participating in Seafarers UK flagship event in 2019, please get in touch by emailing events@seafarers.uk

Seafarers UK 24 Peaks Challenge – hot, hilly and huge respect

‘A huge thanks from Team Spinlock… The whole process

has certainly brought our company closer together, and I’m sure more employees will partake in the future as we have proved it can be done!’ Ash Holmes, Spinlock Ltd

Team Scandia

Fundraising news

10 • SEAVIEW | WINTER 2018 • HELPING SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 1917

London URNU shows long-term commitment to Seafarers UKSeafarers UK is privileged to have a number of supporters very loyal to our charity. Through their commitment to organising events and taking on personal challenges to raise funds we are able to continue helping seafarers in need and their families.

One such loyal supporter is London URNU

(University Royal Navy Unit), who have had

another successful year fundraising for Seafarers

UK, raising almost £7,000. With a range of

activities across the year, staff and cadets alike

were involved with raising funds for our charity,

inviting their colleagues, friends and family to

take part too. The group hosted an auction and

ran a raffle at their Christmas Party and Spring

Ball, with a number of Seafarers UK staff also

joining in the fun at their Wine Tasting event.

A number of their more active individuals

participated in the hottest London Marathon

on record, battled against atrocious weather

conditions to complete the Prudential Ride

London-Surrey 100 and scaled 24 Peaks

in the Lake District, almost the equivalent

distance of trekking to the top of Mont

Blanc, in just 24 hours’ walking time.

We would like to thank everyone at London URNU

for their commitment to supporting Seafarers

UK and for keeping fundraising such fun.

6 December 2018 Santa in the City London’s iconic 5k Santa Run. The festive run is the

only event where you’ll run past some of the most

iconic locations in the world, dressed as a Santa!

28 April 2019 London Marathon Join the Seafarers UK London Marathon team and

take on the world-famous 26.2-mile run witnessing

the capital’s iconic structures along the way.

4 August 2019 Prudential Ride London 100 An incredible and unique 100-mile challenge, riding

on closed roads through the Capital and Surrey.

Various Dates Obstacle Course Events Take on a Spartan or Rough Runner event –

have fun, like being a kid again!

You can raise funds to support Seafarers UK by hosting your own event. Visit our website www.seafarers.uk to find out more or email events@seafarers.uk with an idea of your own!

Seafarers UKFundraising Events 2018-2019

Chris Grieco after completing London Marathon 2018

The newsletter of Seafarers UK www.seafarers.uk • 11

Community news

After the wonderful summer that we have had in the UK this year, it was quite a struggle to become accustomed to dark evenings and cold wet days again. However, Seafarers UK volunteers and committees made the most of the weather, working hard as always to raise funds for our charity.

Pembroke Committee held its usual annual

Summer Reception at Castlemartin Officers’

Mess in Pembrokeshire, ably assisted by

Tenby Sea Cadets, raising £1,600, which

is excellent. Sadly, it was the last of these

lovely events in West Wales, as procuring

venues in the area has become increasingly

hard and costly. It is with great regret,

therefore, that Seafarers UK bids farewell

to our friends in Pembroke

Committee who have loyally

served us for so many years.

A huge thank you to you all!

Once again, Seafarers UK Golf

Day was held at Southwick

ENGLAND & WALES

by Alex Sard MBE, Community

Support Manager

on local radio Sunny G, in the lead

up to the event that also included a

number of Arctic Convoy veterans.

A very successful concert performed by

the Royal Marines Band Scotland took

place in Belfast in June, attended by

the Lord Lieutenant, representatives of

The Fishermen’s Mission, The Seamen’s

Christian Friend Society, Apostleship

of the Sea, Royal Naval Association, as

well as Annie Armson from our Belfast

Ladies Committee, with great support

from the Belfast Sea Cadets. Any

further concerts were scuppered as the

Scotland Band was later deployed to the

Caribbean with HMS QUEEN Elizabeth.

More recently, our Annual Seafarers

Service took place in St Mungo’s

Cathedral in Glasgow on Trafalgar

Day, 21 October, where we welcomed

our supporters, as well as friends

and families of the many members

of the seafaring profession.

Finally, I would like to welcome our

new volunteers, Michael Gallagher

in Inverness, Adam Stockman from

Glasgow and Hannah Kite in the

Borders. Welcome aboard and thank you!

Community NEWS

SCOTLAND & NORTHERN

IRELANDby John Hood,

Scotland & Northern Ireland Representative

The maritime community in Scotland and Northern Ireland is diverse and active, with many opportunities for Seafarers UK to engage with other organisations. As such, we were busy meeting fishers, boat builders, suppliers and regulatory bodies at the latest Skipper Expo International Exhibition.

Events leading up to Merchant Navy

Day on 3 September included a

service in St Michael’s and South

Parish Church in Dumfries, hosted

by Arthur Murphy, chairman of the

local Merchant Navy Association,

and attended by the Lord Lieutenant

Fiona Armstrong, of TV presenter

fame, the local MP and councillors.

The Port Welfare Committee for Glasgow

and the West of Scotland came together

on board the Tall Ship Glenlee to host a

reception in September to highlight our

collective work. I was also interviewed

Park (Portsmouth) with a record

number of 20 teams participating.

Fuller’s very generously sponsored

the event and despite a temperature

of 32C everyone enjoyed the day!

Thanks to everyone who engaged with

Merchant Navy Day on 3 September.

Chris Rankin MBE MNM, lately of

Seafarers UK Plymouth Committee,

laid a wreath at The Barbican in

Plymouth on behalf of Seafarers UK.

Autumn events have included two

Trafalgar Night Dinners organised by

the Isle of Man and Lincoln Committees,

a Quiz Night with Fish and Chips

run by Felixstowe Committee, the

annual Reeling Ball organised by

Bath Committee, Chinese Banquet

and Christmas Fayre organised

by East Yorkshire Committee, and

of course our Royal Marines Band

Concerts at Newport (Isle of Wight),

Worthing, Folkestone and Guildford.

Seafarers UK is always seeking volunteers. So if you would like to come and help us run an event or have ideas of your own on local fundraising, please get in touch with Alex via email at alexandra.sard@seafarers.uk or mobile 07711 926824.

12 • SEAVIEW | WINTER 2018 • HELPING SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 1917

Campaigning update

Record-breaking campaign raises awareness of our island nation’s ongoing dependence on Merchant Navy seafarersParish councils from Arthuret to Zennor were among

more than 800 locations where a Red Ensign was

flown ashore on Merchant Navy Day, 3 September,

thanks to a nationwide campaign led by Seafarers UK.

Every parish, town, city and community council

throughout the UK – plus larger local authorities

including borough, district and county councils –

was invited to fly a Red Ensign on a civic building

or public flagpole. Flag-hoisting ceremonies

were held at many locations, with VIPs and

councillors alongside Merchant Navy Association

members, other veterans and Sea Cadets.

A message from HRH The Earl of Wessex was

provided to be read out: ‘On this Merchant Navy Day,

I very much hope you will support this campaign

by Seafarers UK to remember the sacrifices, salute

the courage and support the future of the often

unsung personnel of our Merchant Navy. Too

often they are the forgotten or invisible service;

by raising the Red Ensign you will ensure that

at least on this day they are remembered.’

Westminster City Council was one of the first

councils to sign up to support the campaign.

The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Westminster,

Councillor Lindsey Hall, (pictured above) said the

council was proud to support a day which honours

A very special day for Merchant Navy seafarers

The newsletter of Seafarers UK www.seafarers.uk • 13

Campaigning update

the bravery of men and women from both

World Wars through to today: ‘We are

looking forward to raising awareness by

flying the Red Ensign on 3 September to

recognise all Merchant Navy seafarers,

whether it be those we have lost through

incredible sacrifice or those currently

working hard to service the UK.’

In Scotland, where Merchant Navy Day is

on the Scottish Government’s official list

of flag-flying days, a Red Ensign was flown

at many Historic Environment Scotland

properties, including Edinburgh Castle.

Other landmark locations where a Red

Ensign was flying included Dover Castle,

high above the UK’s busiest ferry port.

All participants have been sent a

‘Commemorative Certificate’ for public

display, with an additional letter of

thanks going to those who collected

www.merchantnavyfund.org /merchant-navy-day/Bridlington Town Council was one of many local

authorities that took part in our Red Ensign Campaign

or made donations to the charity’s

Merchant Navy Fund, which supports

UK Merchant Navy seafarers and their

families when they need a lifeline.

Seafarers UK’s Campaigns Manager

Nick Harvey said: ‘Our Fly the Red

Ensign campaign goes from strength

to strength each year, and in 2019 we

hope to see more than one thousand

Red Ensigns being flown around the

UK on official flagpoles on Merchant

Navy Day. The campaign’s increasing

success just goes to show our nation’s

ongoing connection to the sea, and the

respect that people still have for the

sacrifices of the past and the hard work

of today by Merchant Navy seafarers

in keeping our island nation afloat.’

In Memoriam

Mrs Prudence Katharine Norah Barker

Mrs M W Ballantyne

Mr Peter Bowes

Mr Alan James Burroughs

Mr Dennis Butler

Mrs Elsie Jane Campbell

Mr Desmond Clarke

Mr David John Craven

Ms Gloria Audrey Olga Grace Crossley

Captain Alan James Everett (Ret)

Mr Keith Eustace-Pedlar

Mrs Heather Gilchrist

Mr Will Headon

Mr Ron Lawrence

Lt Cdr Leon King Lindsay

Mr Harold Moody

Mr Philip James Morrissey BEM

Commander John Morton-Lee OBE RN (Ret)

Mrs Margaret O’Connor

Mr Peter Ormond

Mrs Joan Reynolds

Captain Peter John Roberts

Mr George Andrew Tullis

Mr George Wainford

We’d like to thank the families and friends of those recently deceased, who have chosen to support Seafarers UK in their memory.We would also like to thank those people who have chosen to make a quiet personal remembrance of a friend or relative anonymously. We may not have their names, but we acknowledge them all with honour and respect.

In Memoriam

Mrs Marion Milligan30 Aug 1927 – 4 May 2018We were saddened to hear of the death of Mrs Marion Milligan at the age of 90 in May this year. Marion was a proud supporter of our charity over many years and a past chair of our Belfast Ladies Committee. A keen and enthusiastic fundraiser, she previously received an award from the Duke of Edinburgh for her sterling efforts. Her son, Commander Rob Milligan, is presently Senior Naval Officer Northern Ireland and contributed so much to the success of our concert in Belfast in June this year.

Commander Frank Feest 14 Jan 1934 – 1 Aug 2018Commander Frank Feest, Royal Navy, was a long-serving member of the Seafarers UK Lincoln Committee, latterly taking the role of Secretary.

His continuing loyalty to Seafarers UK is noteworthy as was his willingness to offer his assistance and become involved in any local fundraising event that the committee were organising. Frank will be much missed by Lincoln Committee for his cheerful disposition and friendly nature. Our thoughts are with Frank’s widow and his family.

14 • SEAVIEW | WINTER 2018 • HELPING SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 1917

In Loving MemoryMany people now ask for donations instead of flowers at funerals.When someone dies the most important thing for those left behind is what was important to those who have passed away and to keep that memory alive.

The gifts we receive to celebrate the life of a loved one leave a lasting tribute to the seafaring community. Our 'In Loving Memory' leaflet is designed to help those who have lost a member of their family or a friend and want to remember them by giving donations to seafarers in need.

For more information, please contact Carole Hunt on 020 7932 5986 or carole.hunt@seafarers.uk

The newsletter of Seafarers UK www.seafarers.uk • 15

The newsletter of Seafarers UK www.seafarers.uk • 15

Editor Maria Higham

Editorial enquiries/submissions seaview@seafarers.uk

Change of address notification paola.martin@seafarers.uk

Patron

Her Majesty The Queen

President His Royal Highness The Earl

of Wessex, KG, GCVO, ADC

Chairman

Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson, CB, CVO

Director General

Commodore Barry Bryant, CVO, RN

Seafarers UK 8 Hatherley Street

London SW1P 2QT

Telephone 020 7932 0000

Website www.seafarers.uk

Our website has up-to-date information on fundraising events, campaigns, ways to donate, how to apply

for grants or get help for seafarers in need.

@Seafarers_UK SeafarersUK Seafarers_UK

seaview magazine is published by Seafarers UK. Please recycle it once you have finished with it. Online copies are available at www.seafarers.uk/what-we-do/publications/

To keep up-to-date with all our fundraising activities and to find out how to get involved, sign up to our regular email newsletter Seapost. Simply email seafarers@seafarers.uk or visit www.seafarers.uk. If you’re already receiving our email newsletter and would like to unsubscribe, please just click an ‘unsubscribe’ link in the footer of the latest issue received.

Seafarers UK (King George’s Fund for Sailors) is a Registered Charity in England and Wales, No. 226446, incorporated under Royal Charter. Registered in Scotland SC038191.

Seafarers UK was originally set up in 1917 as King George’s Fund for Sailors, with the aim of helping people in the maritime community by providing vital funding to support seafarers in need and their families.

Now operating under the name Seafarers UK, the charity continues this work by giving money to organisations and projects that make a real difference to people’s lives, across the Merchant Navy, Fishing Fleets, Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Trinity House is proud to support Seafarers UK

THMC Seafarers Flagship A4 v1.indd 1 3/22/2018 9:31:13 AM