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23rd September
2010 - World
Maritime Day – ‘The Big Remembrance’ Latest update 10 September 2010 From Rev Potterton Principle Chaplin Sailor's Society.
I would suggest that
those you have in mind arrive early afternoon aiming for 2pm. Doesn't
matter if they are a little early or late as we will fit them in when they
get to Trinity Gardens. The day is flexible with others doing the same
during the day. The Shipping Minister and Charles Kennedy are coming to
read a few names at a time that works with their day. We plan to complete
WW1 names by lunchtime so PWSTS old boys will read WW2 names, a couple of
vessels each. They will be welcomed, briefed and supported throughout
their time with us and the process will be unrushed. They can read one
after and will be received as a group.
Please let the PWSTS know ASAP
if you wish to attend Calling on PWSTS volunteers [3 August 2010]
Rev David Potterton, the Principle
Chaplin of the Sailors’ Society, has sent the below message. If the PWSTS
Association can provide a handful of readers (4-6?) who can get to Trinity
Gardens early afternoon on 23rd, the Sailors’ Society will be
pleased to include ‘us’ as ‘readers’. Andy Gale
Update from the Sailors' Society - The Sailors' Society will pay for
travel if we can get up to 4 veterans to join with us (1 old boy will
still provide a poignant element to the day) especially if they survived
the Atlantic or other convoys or even have crew members or ship mates
whose loss is recorded on the 2WW Memorial. There will be an opportunity
to lay a wreath during the day and this could be laid by an old boy. We
will also repay taxi costs too and from mainline stations in London.
23rd September - World Maritime Day – ‘The Big Remembrance’ On 23rd September 2010, the Principal Chaplain of the Sailors Society, assisted by two other Society Chaplains will read all 35,675 names recorded on the National Merchant Navy Memorials in Trinity Gardens, London. The reading of the names will constitute a formal and dignified Act of Remembrance of all those Merchant Seafarers whose names are recorded on the First and Second World War Memorials and the Falklands Campaign Memorial. This Act of Remembrance is supported by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who have kindly given their permission to hold the event in the Gardens and embraced the sentiment behind it believing that it is a novel way of promoting the role of Merchant Seafarers during times of military conflict. In support of the event they have already provided the names of vessels and crew members recorded on the Memorials in Trinity Gardens to the Sailors’ Society electronically (to be printed and placed in files in readiness for the event) and directed us to speak with relevant personnel within Tower Hamlets Council. Careful calculations have confirmed that all the names can be read across a 24 hour period of 23rd September with the reading commencing at midnight on 22nd and concluding at midnight on 23rd. In addition to Society Chaplains reading the names, it is hoped that survivors of the Atlantic Convoys will be present for a portion of the day to read the names of their comrades, lost at sea. Support is being sought from the Prince of Wales Sea Training School Association in this regard. It is hoped also that other civic and ‘high profile’ guests will attend to share in the reading of the names during the day-time element of the 24 hour period. This event is most certainly not a fund-raising event and no collections will be made during the period. The concept is simply based on a passion to highlight the cost paid by the Merchant Marine during the military conflicts remembered on the respective memorials on a day which is most appropriate for that purpose. David Potterton
Principal Chaplain
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Completed please
see forum for full details and photographs