Seafarers UK Flagship Magazine Winter 2015

Going to sea across the generationsThree different perspectives on how being

a seafarer has changed over time

www.seafarers.uk

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THE MAGAZINE OF SEAFARERS UK ISSUE 27 wINTER 2015

Making a difference Highlights from our latest grants rounds

Supporting seafarers of the past, present

and future

Reaching those in greatest need – latest case studies

Maritime jobs for future generations

Sign up to our challenge events in 2016

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Seafarers UK | Flagship | winter 20152

The Royal Marines Bands concerts are organised by Seafarers UK. They help raise essential funds for seafarers in need, and their families, across the Merchant Navy, Fishing Fleets, Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Come and experience

one of the most exciting musical and military spectacles and help

raise funds for seafarers in need

For tickets, please contact the venues directly To find out how the Royal Marines Bands concerts benefit seafarers in need contact Alexandra Sard on 023 9273 6101, email [email protected] or John Hood on 07885 555 760, email [email protected]

2015 • worthing Assembly Hall | Friday 4 December

01903 206206 | www.worthingtheatres.co.uk

• O2 Guildhall Southampton | thursday 10 December

023 8063 2601 | www.o2guildhallsouthampton.co.uk

2015-2016

2016• Dunfermline Carnegie Hall | wednesday 16 March

01383 602302 | www.onfife.com

• Dunfermline Carnegie Hall | thursday 28 April 01383 602302 | www.onfife.com

• Dunfermline Carnegie Hall | thursday 9 June 01383 602302 | www.onfife.com

• Dorking Halls | Saturday 18 June 01306 881717 | www.dorkinghalls.co.uk

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Flagship ContentsFlagship Contents

Contents Flagship Issue 27 wInter 2015

Features

Supporting Seafarers of the past, present and future: a look ahead to 20175

From the bridgeCommodore Barry Bryant gives an overview of the latest news

Our feature article Supporting seafarers of the past, present and future: a look ahead to 2017

Going to sea across the generations three different perspectives on how being a seafarer has changed over time

Making a difference Highlights from our latest grants rounds

Reaching those in greatest need Latest case studies

How you can help

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8Making a differenceHighlights from our latest grants rounds

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Seafarers UK takes centre stage at London international Shipping week 2015

Seafarers UK calls for Merchant Navy day to be officially recognised by HM Government

Fundraising news and events calendar All the latest fundraising news and events calendar

Community news the latest Seafarers UK community news and updates

In Memoriam

Crossword and Jack Chat

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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 Flagpost by emailing [email protected] or visiting www.seafarers.uk

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Going to sea across the generationsThree perspectives on being a seafarer


The Bridgefrom

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

As we draw to the end of another year, i can only reflect that while 2015 was rather a bad one for the wider charity sector as a whole, it was really quite a good one for Seafarers UK.

While not wishing to revel in the misfortunes of others, it gives us a certain satisfaction that the accusations of aggressive fundraising and an apparent total lack of good governance cannot be levelled at us.

We have heard many times in recent weeks that the hallmarks of a well-run charity are neither flashy headlines nor celebrity frolics, but sound administration and provable, well-documented outcomes for beneficiaries. I hope you will all feel confident that your generosity towards our seafaring community – erstwhile colleagues in many cases – is both well governed and achieves a huge amount of positive change. Our annual Impact Report has earned many plaudits; it’s available via our website, and there is hard copy available on request.

Each week that goes by sees the tempo of our Centenary plans increase, on the theme of helping Past, Present and Future seafarers. After our President, HRH The Earl of Wessex set things in train at the Annual Meeting by announcing the first Centenary project, majority funding of the second half of the Hub accommodation complex at Mariners’ Park in Wallasey, things have swiftly moved on. Present-day seafarers will be celebrated by our support for the International Port Welfare Project (IPWP) whereby we will help to establish up to date Welfare Centres in every major port in the world. At the same time, we hope to attract many future seafaring engineers into

our maritime industries by producing six modern Marine Engineering demonstration vehicles that will tour with practical displays and hands-on teaching models. I should stress the spirit of partnership demonstrated by each one of these Centenary activities; at Mariners’ Park the Hub construction will be overseen and eventually managed by Nautilus Welfare, the Port Welfare Project is being masterminded by the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), while the engineering ‘Pods’ are being developed in concert with the Marine Society and Sea Cadets. This demonstrates our strong and long-standing desire for our nautical welfare sector to become more efficient, playing to individual strengths to produce a cohesive and effective service. You may well think that there is still over twelve months to go before the real Centenary year but complex outcomes take time to promote and finance properly, and these early plans are designed to ensure that the three projects come on stream successfully in 2017.

One of the most satisfying aspects of this year so far has been the ever-increasing success of our campaigning for greater maritime awareness. This year our efforts were rewarded by a major Reception at the International Maritime Organisation at which we were able to launch five short films showcasing successful young people starting out on seafaring careers, as well as giving a taster of the Seavision

project which should soon see an on-line ‘one-stop’ careers portal going live on the web. Perhaps our most visible success was on Merchant Navy Day, 3 September, when we invited over 400 local authorities to mark the occasion by flying the Red Ensign from their major public buildings. I believe this initiative was a huge success in its first year, with well over 200 local authorities responding to the call, and with many flying ensigns in up to six different locations.

And so, as festivities approach, we are looking forward to the New Year with a great sense of optimism – and hoping we can find sufficient post-Yuletide energy to get everything done! On top of all the fundraising and grant-making and campaigning, we shall be looking hard at life after the Centenary and planning for the future. We all live in a fast-changing world, and successful charities will be those who plan for the future and work with colleagues to achieve wider outcomes. Through our chairmanship of the Maritime Charities Group, we are already commissioning research to ensure we can reach those goals.

As ever at this time of year, a huge message of gratitude to all of you who support us and our seafarers so valiantly. All of us here at Hatherley Street wish everyone an excellent Christmas – but please spare a thought for those at sea fighting the fog and the Force Eight gales as you tuck into your turkey!

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The Bridge

An update on the charity’s Centenary theme and plans –

by Nigel Shattock, Director of Fundraising & Communications

Supporting seafarers of the past, present and future: a look ahead to 2017

Hopefully, you may have registered by now that 2017 is Seafarers UK’s Centenary Year. indeed, we reported in the last edition of Flagship on the unveiling of a Centenary badge (see below) by our President, HrH the earl of wessex, to be used alongside our logo throughout 2016 and 2017.

There was also the announcement that the charity is to commit significant funding to the building of a new Centenary wing as part of the Hub retirement complex for elderly seafarers at Mariners’ Park in Wallasey, Liverpool, due to open in Spring 2017.

The theme for our Centenary is Supporting Seafarers: Past, Present and Future. To begin exploring this theme a little, the article on the following three pages looks at the image of seafaring from the perspectives of three generations.

In the next three issues of Flagship we will go on to look in more depth at the various issues faced by older and ex-seafarers (Spring 2016 edition), those who are currently serving (Winter 2016) and finally the next generation of seafarers (Spring 2017).

In each edition, we will explore some of the charities, projects and people that our funding supports across these three broad beneficiary areas. We will highlight a key Centenary fundraising project in detail, each one respectively representing the past, present or future of seafaring. It is these projects that will make up the core of our fundraising ‘asks’ to trusts, donors and corporates during 2016 and into 2017.

One project will see the charity fundraising towards the additional

costs of the Seafarers UK Centenary Wing at Mariners’ Park. Another involves the setting up of Port Welfare Boards in overseas ports where they do not exist, ensuring seafarers’ welfare is properly supported when they come into port. The third concerns an innovative approach to stimulating young people’s interest in marine engineering as a career.

Looking ahead, a special Centenary booklet will be published for supporters in 2017 and Centenary merchandise ideas are being looked at. Local fundraising committees have also been asked to plan ahead for some Centenary celebrations of their own.

Lastly, there are two set-piece events for 2017 that continue to be worked on. One is a major fundraising dinner in the City of London in March 2017, to coincide with the meeting in March 1917 to discuss the formation of the charity. The other is a proposal for a Palace event in July 2017 for a cross-section of volunteers, supporters and beneficiaries, to be held 100 years after the Sailors’ Fund was formally launched at the Mansion House in July 1917.

Feature Article

Photo courtesy of Southampton Solent University’s Warsash Maritime Academy


Interview Article

By way of introducing our centenary theme of Supporting Seafarers: Past, Present and Future, Seafarers UK asked three people with a close connection to the sea to discuss their different experiences, fears and hopes of what being a seafarer is all about.

Those who kindly agreed to participate were: John MacDavitt,

an ex-Merchant Navy seafarer and resident, along with his wife, of the Trinity House Hub retirement complex in Mariners’ Park, Wallasey; Neal O’Hara, previously an electronic warfare expert in the Royal Navy and now serving as second mate on the ERRV vessel MV Ocean Ness; and Samuel Adams from the Birkenhead Sea Cadet Unit. The following is an edited transcript of their discussion that took place at Mariners’ Park in Liverpool.

Neal, what led you to join the Royal Navy, then subsequently the Merchant Navy, and what was it like the first time you went to sea?I was a young boy. I wanted to join the forces. The Royal Navy appealed to me, so I joined when I was 18 and I’ve been at sea all my life since then. I did 12 years in the Royal Navy, travelled the world, met some amazing people, went to some amazing places.

The first time at sea was probably not the best day in the world, but it wasn’t too bad either, and I just got used to it from there. But after 12 years I decided to leave the Royal Navy and I came out looking for a job. When I couldn’t find one I turned to the Merchant Navy, and I’ve been working in the North Sea for the last 21 years now.

John, when did you first go to sea and why?In 1947. Before that, as a young boy, I had always been messing around on my father’s cabin cruiser, an old converted Scottish fishing boat. We used to go to Rothesay, the Cumbraes, the Isle of Arran to go fishing, and I was allowed to take the wheel. Then I said to my dad one day, ‘I would like to go to sea.’ He looked at me and he said, ‘It’s not an easy life, you know.’ I said, ‘I still want to give it a go.’

I wanted to study navigation, but I failed; I was colour-blind, so that was out. Then I said to him, ‘What about engineering? But I need an apprenticeship.’ So I got an apprenticeship with Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company and I did two-and-a-half years there. Then I decided I’d like some steam experience, and I went to another company called Rankin & Blackmore, who built triple-expansion engines, so I had a good grounding. And during that period I was at night school and day release. That’s how it all started.

Samuel, what got you interested in the Sea Cadets, and what has been your best experience so far?I joined the Sea Cadets because I wanted to make new friends and I always liked sailing and the water. I saw it as a good opportunity to have a go. My best experience was probably when I went offshore on TS John Jerwood with all my friends. I just enjoyed being at sea.

John, what were your hopes and fears when you first started your career?I started with Esso and joined my first ship in Cardiff Docks. She was called the Missionary Ridge. In those days, Esso had a black funnel fleet and they were T2s built in America. When I got to the dry dock, this ship looked enormous; it was about 14,000 or 15,000 tonnes. I had to check in with the second engineer, and the first job he gave me was, ‘Go down that tank.’ When I looked down, I thought there was no bottom to it; it was so deep. Of course, I did as he asked and came out later black and filthy.

Then I was transferred to a ship called the Esso Birmingham. She was a T2 running between Fawley and the Persian Gulf, but I had an accident, and when I went home I thought, ‘I’m young. On tankers you don’t see very much.’ I wanted to see as much of the world while I was single, so I moved to Salvesen’s of Leith and went to the Antarctic, and that was an amazing experience.

Neal, you’re still in the middle of your career, but what are your happiest memories of being a seafarer so far? I‘ve just had that many good times while I’ve been away, especially when I was in the Royal Navy with the lads. You do lots of different things, crossing-the-line ceremonies, and you go through these amazing places;

Going to sea across the generations

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the Suez Canal, Panama Canal, going round the Magellan Straits. I’ve just had wonderful experiences all round; you couldn’t really put your finger on one and say, ‘That’s the best.’ I suppose I’m lucky in that respect.

And what were your hopes and fears when you started out?To be honest, I just wanted to go to sea. In the Navy we went away, did our jobs, worked hard – really hard. Then sometimes you had the time to kick back and relax, going out on the upper deck at 6 o’clock at night in the middle of the Mediterranean, with a cup of tea in your hand, thinking, ‘Got to be better than working in an office, this.’

When I joined the Merchant Navy, I was glad because I do enjoy being at sea. It’s a bit of a bind being away from your family and your loved ones, but it’s what you’ve got to put up with if you want to do what you’ve chosen to do.

Samuel, have you had any particular moments with the Sea Cadets that really stick in your mind?When I was on John Jerwood, a power vessel, it was really windy and choppy. It was dark too because it was so cloudy, with thunder and lightning outside, and I was quite seasick. It was good too, but when you keep going you lose it a bit and so you’re getting scared. It’s not very nice.

John, any particularly worrying times whilst you were at sea?The scariest time I ever had at sea was in the Antarctic, when the ship called the Southern Opal was struck with a growler, which is an iceberg. She was strongly built, but it was as if somebody had gone along with a knife, and then water started pouring into the engine room. Fortunately, we weren’t too far from South Georgia at the time, so to keep the engine room from flooding, they shut the main sea valve and used the water which was pouring into the bilges for cooling the engines and that kept the water at a certain level. The deck officers had a tarpaulin into the sea to try and stop the volume of water coming in, and we limped back with another ship assisting us to Leith Harbour, where it was all welded up again. That was an experience I’ll never forget.

It’s a place I love, the Antarctic, but you’ve got to be a certain type of person to go there, because you’re away for 12 months. There were no ladies in the Antarctic, and the ships are dry. I was lucky; I fitted in very well and I’m a person that likes my own company, so I very seldom got bored. In fact, I actually saw one lad jump over the side in the Antarctic. They were lucky to get him out alive. He had been married just 16 months, and thought he would go to the

Antarctic and save some money, but he didn’t realise how lonely it was.

Neal, you’re in the North Sea on a regular basis, have you had any difficult experiences?When you’re away in the North Sea during the winter, it can get pretty monotonous when you’re getting pounded by the weather all the time. Just last year we were on a ship going to Norway to crew change. We were due there Thursday afternoon and we didn’t get there until late Saturday because the weather was just so bad. There’s other times when it is just not safe to turn the ship. And then it’s usually about 12 hours before you can turn round and come back again. I think the weather is the worst thing about it, but if you can manage the weather, and you’re not seasick, it’s a great career for anybody.

Samuel, do you think you might like to pursue a career in the Royal Navy or the Merchant Navy? I have thought about joining the Royal Navy or the Merchant Navy. I don’t know which one. I enjoy engineering and things like that so I wouldn’t mind going to sea and doing engineering. Either that, or weapons engineering; that would be a good choice. I do get a bit seasick but I like to be at sea and just be away I guess.

Interview Article

From left to right: Samuel Adams, Neal O'Hara, John MacDavitt


Listening to John and to Neal, do you think the experience of being a seafarer might change in the future?I think it will change because it will probably get easier in some respects, as technology moves on. It won’t be as hard as it was to be a seafarer.

John, what do you think the impact of your career choice has been on your life?I saw many places in the world, especially in the Far East and down as far as Australia, the Antarctic, Brazil and places like that. I saw how other people lived and it made me appreciate how lucky we were with democracy, because I’ve been through some funny situations in my life. And it taught me to think for myself. You’ve got to stand on your own two feet when you go to sea, because it can be very tough at times. My generation was lucky. I think that was the best time to go to sea, because if you’d had a bad time and you went to port, when you were off duty you could go ashore and do whatever you wanted to do. I ran to India for seven years, and I learned a lot about India.

I joined a company called Brocklebanks of Liverpool and I had some very, very happy days. There was a captain called Captain Kinley and I have never met a man like him. I think he was the only captain I ever called Sir, all the rest I called captain. He never passed anyone on deck without saying, ‘Good morning’ or asking you, ‘How are your family?’ and that went down very well. The chief engineer, he was very strict but fair. He used to come into the engine room wearing white gloves and if the handrails were dirty he let you know all about it. If you worked hard, he praised you. If you didn’t he told you off. There were bad ships as well, but I remember the good times and I never looked back.

John and Neal, how do you think starting a career at sea today will compare to what you have experienced?Neal: We’ve got guys I sail with, a little bit younger than John but they’re from that era as well. They had the good times when they could go ashore somewhere and they’d go and look at the history of the place. With the security issues now, the lads just can’t do it these days. We can see across the river there they’re

building a new container port to take bigger ships but the guys on board aren’t going to get much chance to visit Liverpool. They just don’t get the time. As soon as the containers are gone, sometimes they’re letting the ropes go while they’re still cleaning up. These days the jobs are there for them if they need them, but they’re not going to have as much enjoyment as they used to do years ago.

John: I get very concerned about young people going to sea today. When I was on, say, a Brocklebanks ship, there were 70 men in those days. Today, you have 150,000 ton ships with 24 men. I was on one of the first tankers with an unmanned engine room. Each engineer had a computer and it worked it all out for you, how much fuel each cylinder was burning, which cylinder to adjust, the fuel pumps. The whole thing had changed. All seafarers seem to do now is eat, work and sleep. Oh, they put all fancy televisions aboard, they put computers aboard, but you need to get off the ship and relax. Safety is going to be a big, big factor.

Samuel, do you think people understand what a seafarer is and how important the sea is to the UK? I think my friends would know what a seafarer was to a certain extent. They’d know it was something to do with the sea, but I don’t think a lot of people know how important the sea is to Britain. They don’t think about things like that enough in the sense of how all the cargo is coming in, they just know it gets here and they’re fine with that.

John, do you think that the general population has lost sight of what being an island nation is about? The trouble is, we’ve virtually no Merchant Navy left. You take the River Mersey: I bet 99% of the ships that sail up here are all foreign flags and you might have 24 men all with different languages. For a nation island without a Merchant Navy, it’s sad. I personally think seafarers have been badly treated in this country. Imagine, the war finished in 1945. We lost about 35,000 men, maybe more, and yet it wasn’t until the year 2000 that we were allowed to march past the Cenotaph. What does that say?

Neal, do you think some of the newer maritime industries might be helping to change people’s perceptions at all?I think everyone knows of the growing offshore industries, the windfarms,

and there are a lot of research and survey vessels. Sam mentioned that his friends know a bit about the sea. But a good few years ago, they had to delay one of the new PlayStations from getting launched because one of the ships that was carrying them was delayed in the Suez Canal. That’s the only time I know of when a lot of people thought, ‘Well, why is it coming by ship?’ Most people just take it for granted and they don’t realise the percentage of everything we use on a day to day basis that comes in by sea.

John, what word of advice would you give to anyone who was thinking of becoming a seafarer?I would look into it very thoroughly. First of all, I would ask the company: ‘What are the conditions? Is there any social life? How often do I get home?’ Last of all would be the salary. Social lives are so important to seafarers when you’re cooped up in the tin box. If you’ve got a good master and a good chief engineer, you’ve usually got a happy ship, but if you have awkward people, it can be very miserable.

Neal, any advice for someone wanting to join the Royal Navy or the Merchant Navy? what should they think about before going to sea?Being an 18-year-old joining the Royal Navy, and still having friends to this day in the Royal Navy, I would say, ‘Do it.’ It was the best experience I had in my life. You can still move on to something else. You can always look back and say, ‘I tried it, I didn’t like it,’ but I’ve got friends who have done 35 years in the Royal Navy. A life at sea is an enjoyable life, but the other side is, these days, it’s slowly being taken away – not the life at sea, just the life around it.

Samuel, what do you think is the most important thing you’ve learnt through being in the Sea Cadets? I think, probably, the most important thing I’ve learnt is about how important the sea is and how it does affect everything. It’s good to have all your different qualifications, things like that, but I’d say the most important thing to learn is how important the sea is to us.

Our thanks to John, Neal and Samuel for taking part in this interview.

Interview Article

2015 year to date grants split by maritime sector

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Making a difference Having held our September grant round we have now awarded 53 grants to 40 organisations – totalling more than £2m in the year to date. These grants aim to support 61,158 seafaring beneficiaries – whether working age, older or dependants and families.

While of course there were some unsuccessful applications, it’s important to highlight that seven grants were given to organisations we have not funded before.

Working with organisations new to us means we are able to widely increase the number of people we are reaching.

A particularly significant grant is the £1,170,000 given to Nautilus Welfare Fund to support the building of the Seafarers UK Centenary Wing

in September, 28 applications resulted in 20 grants to 19 organisations. these grants will benefit 38,856 seafarers, ex-seafarers and families in need.the following grants have been awarded:

From Seafarers UK:• Age Concern Spain - £17,000

• Age UK wirral - £16,725

• Annual national Service

for Seafarers - £500

• Apostleship of the Sea -

£60,000

• Community network - £29,739

• Cornwall Community

Development Ltd - £41,931

• Fishermen’s Mission -

£170,000

• Fishermen’s Mission - £6,000

• Manx Marine Society - £3,000

• Armed Forces Multiple

Sclerosis Support - £5,000

• Plymouth Communities

Befriending CiC - £10,810

• Poppy Scotland - £15,000

• red Sea House tenants’

Association - £5,000

• royal Alfred Seafarers’

Society - £7,000

• Sailors’ Children’s Society -

£70,000

• Seavision - £25,000

• South Atlantic Medal

Association - £5,000

From The Merchant Navy Fund:• Age UK wirral - £12,161

• Somme nursing

Home - £5,034

• nautilus welfare

Fund - £4,502

Merchant Navy

Fishing Fleet

Royal Navy Royal Marines

Cross-sector

Making a Difference

at Mariners’ Park, Liverpool. We have also awarded £28,663 to date from the Merchant Navy Fund.

£2,183,345 awarded in grants

in 2015 to date

12%

28%

22%38%

Royal Navy Royal Marines

£35,000 grant to Carlton Education and Enterprise Carlton Education and Enterprise has been helping people to get back into work since 2003. One of its latest projects aims to offer opportunities for working age fishermen, ex-fishermen and their families, who are looking to move into education, training and employment in the East Marsh area of Grimsby. East Marsh, a so-called ‘benefits ghetto’, has 51% of people claiming out-of-work benefits – the sixth-highest figure in England and Wales. The fishing fleet in the area has been severely depleted over the recent years – currently it has just ten working fishing boats – with many fishing families being out of work.

Our grant will help to complete the conversion of its property to house a laundry, children’s soft play area, internet café, training/function rooms, office spaces for incubator businesses as well as an Apprenticeship Training Agency. The premises will be used as a resource to provide volunteering opportunities, traineeships and apprenticeships, and work experience placements to those looking to move into education, training or employment.

‘In building the centre we have already provided accommodation for two people from seafaring backgrounds and supported one young person to secure a job on a large fishing trawler.’Jan Gilbert, Director, Carlton Education and Enterprise

£3,200 grant to B.A.S.I.C. Childcare

Since its formation by Royal Navy wives in 1994, B.A.S.I.C. Childcare has grown into a wonderful crèche supporting seafaring families at Helensburgh, near the site of HM Naval Base Clyde in the Fasslane area of Scotland.

B.A.S.I.C. excels in offering a ‘respite’ childcare model, which helps create friendships and connections between families in the area.

Our recent grant helped B.A.S.I.C. to carry out a number of improvements in their garden, providing a safe, but wonderfully exciting space for the children of seafarers living nearby.

£5,034 grant to Somme Nursing HomeSituated in Belfast, Somme Nursing Home has been providing long-term nursing care for sick, wounded and disabled service and ex-service personnel, and their spouses, since 1914. They do all this amid the homely, relaxed environment of 40 purpose-built ground floor bedrooms with en suite facilities and a fully monitored nurse call system.

Our grant will fund the replacement of two patient hoists – really benefiting those patients with mobility problems.

‘I love living at Somme. I have wonderful company here, and the staff will do anything for me.’Albert, 81, ex-Royal Navy


£41,931 grant to Cornwall Community Development Ltd (run by Cornwall Rural Community Charity)Cornwall Rural Community Charity (CRCC) informs and guides local groups and individuals via a wide range of projects that offer support with health and wellbeing, help for carers and community development. Its latest community development project aims to provide training in IT and financial issues to working fishermen aged 55 and over and their families throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Attendees will be able to learn how to manage all their financial affairs online, and, through one-to-one sessions, will also receive advice on issues concerning debt, mental health and access to other services.

Our grant will fund two part-time members of staff trained in outreach work to deliver eight training courses that will benefit nearly 200 people.

‘This grant is going to make such a difference to Cornwall’s fishing families who can sometimes feel very isolated. By simply learning how to use computers and access the internet, they will be able to reduce their living costs and become more financially independent.’Peter Jefferson, Chief Executive, CRCC

Latest Grants

Case Studies

Case studies

How your support reaches those in greatest need

Sarah’s late husband Paul served in the Royal Navy in the 1950s. He was stationed on Christmas Island during project ‘Grapple Y’– Britain’s biggest-ever nuclear test.

Paul had to watch the blast without protective clothing. Immediately after, he was sent to test water samples – again, with no protective clothing or equipment.

When Paul died of cancer in 2002, it was almost certainly a result of his exposure to radiation. And just like many other test veterans who went on to have children with birth defects, Sarah and Paul’s son was born with Downs Syndrome, Autism and Scoliosis.

Caring for her son is now a 24-hour job for Sarah. Recently the family’s financial situation became so severe they were close to losing their home. That’s when SAIL became involved by looking at the benefits Sarah was entitled to. With their help she and her son are now £325 better-off per week. SAIL also helped Sarah claim a special housing payment that meant they could afford to keep the house they’d called home for so long.

Today SAIL continues to help Sarah and her son. They recently found her a specialist solicitor who she hopes can one day claim compensation for the terrible effects the nuclear tests have had on two generations of the family.

John is in his fifties and was a self-employed fisherman for 37 years. John’s 15-year-old daughter Annie, who suffers from severe physical and mental health problems, moved in with him last year, and John had to give up work to look after her full time.

Struggling to communicate the nature of Annie’s health problems to Social Services, John suffered from depression and anxiety due to the amount of pressure he was under. He was also struggling with managing the extra expenses of caring for a daughter with health problems.

John was referred to SAIL by one of the maritime charities that had helped him clear some of his debts. SAIL assisted John with applying for various benefits and support allowances that were available to him and his daughter in such difficult circumstances. As a result, John’s income was increased by more than £1,000 per month.

‘It’s very reassuring to know there’s always someone to help on the other end of the line.’

Pauline and Al married 55 years ago and enjoyed a long and happy marriage. In recent years, Pauline developed serious heart problems, Al had to become her full-time carer.

Al’s caring role increased to the point that Pauline couldn’t be left alone. This began to cause both much stress and anxiety at a time when they should have been enjoying their retirement.

Plymouth Befriending Consortium, a charity partially funded by Seafarers UK, were happy to help, when they heard about the couple’s difficulties. They helped answering urgent letters for Pauline and Al, arranged for them to get a Blue Badge, and helped them make a will too.

Pauline has also been attending two of their social groups on a weekly basis. Door-to-door transport has been provided, enabling her to get out of the house, make new friends and enjoy various local trips. This has greatly increased her quality of life, reduced loneliness, anxiety, and improved her mental health. Recent fitting of a pacemaker has also improved her physical health and mobility.

Thanks to the wide-ranging support they’re getting, Pauline and Al are really enjoying life again.

At seafarers uK we aim to make sure nobody who’s spent their life at sea is left without support. that’s why it’s so important that we can continue to fund charities like Plymouth Befriending Consortium.

through funding charities like sAIL, we make sure that the donations we receive go on to help people who need your support the most.

Seafarers UK receives no government funding and relies on your support to be able to carry on providing the long-term aid that last year gave hope and help to over 170,000 seafarers and their families when they needed it most. we would like to thank all our supporters for their kind generosity.

www.seafarers.uk 1 1


Corporate News

the second week of September found leaders from the shipping industry converging for the second biennial London international Shipping week. throughout the week, hundreds of conferences, seminars and receptions took place – propelling world trade and ensuring that London remains at the heart of the shipping world.

Seafarers UK takes centre stage at

London International

Shipping Week 2015

London international Shipping week also saw the

publication of the Maritime Growth Study report (MGS), as ewen Macdonald, Director of Seavision (pictured), writes:

Groundbreaking Maritime Growth Study report unveiled

Seafarers UK had the privilege of being a beneficiary charity for the week in conjunction with the Mission to Seafarers, Apostleship of the Sea, and Sailors’ Society. This year the four maritime charities decided to take a proactive role in proceedings and put seafarer welfare firmly on the agenda, through hosting the ‘Big Maritime Welfare Debate’ on Tuesday 8 September, held at the Willis building and generously sponsored by Willis.

Clay Maitland, Managing Partner of International Registries Inc (pictured) was the keynote speaker. He opened proceedings by calling for a ‘Seafarers Standing Committee’ at the International Maritime Organisation.

He opined that the Maritime Labour Convention was already out of date, and that serious action on seafarer rights was unlikely until the abuse of many of the world’s crews was

highlighted more effectively.

Maitland stressed the need for flag states to improve how they share data on rates of illness, suicide and deaths on board: ‘There is no database to refer to while advocating for the seafarer, but if that information was available the political pressure would then be out there to support them.’

Maitland also called for the UK government in particular to take a lead role in determining how best to protect seafarers’ rights, saying: ‘Flag states are in a darkened room.’

Nigel Shattock, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Seafarers UK, commented: ‘The success of this inaugural Maritime Welfare Debate bodes well for future collaborative working by our four charities, including for London International Shipping Week in 2017’.

Our thanks go to the London International Shipping Week’s Steering Group for once again choosing Seafarers UK as a beneficiary charity and to all those who contributed to making the ‘Big Maritime Welfare Debate’ such a resounding success.

Those of us connected with the sector are well aware of the importance of maritime to a world that sees 90% of everything moving by sea.

However, today’s sector is significantly smaller than in the past. The evolving nature of the UK sector and its place in a global industry means that promotion of what we have to offer is more important than ever.

‘The MGS report seeks to bring together the maritime and the marine sectors in the UK, uniting them alongside proactive government engagement to project a strong and vibrant profile worldwide.

Among the report’s 18 recommendations it was particularly pleasing to see one for a pan-

sector careers facility – a project currently underway by Seavision, with the much-appreciated support of Seafarers UK and other Seavision lead partners.

We welcome the findings of the report and look forward to playing our part in implementing the recommendations.’

www.seafarers.uk 13

Campaigning Update

Merchant navy Day on 3 September has been recognised by UK seafarers since 2000. this year, in response to a campaign by Seafarers UK (supported by the Merchant navy Association), 200 local authorities flew the red ensign – the UK Merchant navy’s flag since 1854 – on public buildings and prominent flagstaffs.

President of Seafarers UK, HRH The Earl of Wessex, endorsed the campaign, saying: ‘On this Merchant Navy Day, I very much hope you will support this campaign to remember the sacrifices, salute the courage and support the future of the often unsung personnel of our Merchant Navy.’

Now Seafarers UK is calling on the Government formally to recognise Merchant Navy Day on 3 September as the official day on which the

UK’s historical and ongoing dependence on Merchant Navy seafarers is commemorated, and their special needs acknowledged.

Seafarers UK’s Director General Commodore Barry Bryant explained: ‘When we started campaigning for local councils to fly the Red Ensign on 3 September, we presumed that Merchant Navy Day itself was already on the Government’s list of national flag-flying days. It came as a surprise to discover that it is not, nor is it an official Day of Remembrance.’

‘Merchant Navy Day is an important annual opportunity for the nation to say “thank you” to current and former Merchant Navy seafarers. I urge the Government to mark 3 September accordingly, acknowledging that our island nation is as dependent on seafarers today as it was during the First and Second World Wars.’

www.merchantnavyfund.org/merchant-navy-day/

Seafarers UK calls for Merchant Navy Day to be officially recognised by HM Government Maritime jobs

for future generationsnext year’s Seafarers Awareness week, 20-26 June, will promote maritime job opportunities, at sea and ashore in the UK. it will also focus on increasing young children’s knowledge of the UK’s historic and ongoing dependence as an island nation on seafarers.

Building on the success of this year’s awareness-raising campaign, which saw more than one hundred businesses and organisations supporting the annual initiative, Seafarers UK will publicise helpful sources of employment information, including Careers at Sea, the Maritime Skills Alliance and Seavision.

A parallel promotion will encourage UK primary schools to organise ‘non uniform days’, with children dressing up in nautically-inspired costumes. A new infographic will be created to appeal specifically to young children, showing how the UK is dependent on seafarers for vital overseas trade.

Seafarers Awareness Week will as usual be a pan-sector campaign, promoting the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, the Merchant Navy and the commercial fishing industry, plus workboats, superyachts and cruise ships.

From left to right: Captain Rob Booth, Senior Warden, Honourable Company of Master Mariners; Bob Jones, Chairman, Merchant Navy Welfare Board; Captain Ian McNaught, Deputy Master, Trinity House; The Rt Hon. The Lord West of Spithead; Alderman Alan Yarrow, ex-Lord Mayor, City of London; Vice-Admiral Peter Wilkinson, Chairman, Seafarers UK; Captain Nigel Palmer, Chairman, Marine Society & Sea Cadets; Guy Platten, Chief Executive Officer, UK Chamber of Shipping; Jim Fitzpatrick MP.

Join seafarers uK for ‘supporting seafarers Day’ on thursday 23 June 2016.

Fundraising News


Seawives, created by sisters-in-law Jo and Louise Hammond, is a new website offering a forum where members can support, advise and discuss the challenges of having a loved one at sea.

Jo and Louise, whose husbands work in the Merchant Navy, actively encourage members to meet and form their own community groups within their

All the latest news &activities from Seafarers UK

Seawives Support Seafarers UK

As an island nation, we are wholly dependent on the waters around us, and those who make their livelihoods upon it. Nowhere is this more evident than on the waters of the Thames. From the bustling docks of Tilbury and the new London Gateway, welcoming some of the largest ships on the high seas, to the punts of Oxford, the Thames has been central to the prosperity of Great Britain for centuries.

Great River Race

For 27 years, The Great River Race has paid homage to the watermen who have made their livelihood on the river. This year Seafarers UK had the privilege of being the race’s official charity. Not only did we host an information stand and bucket collection at the finish area at Ham, we also had four boats in the race crewed by three of our corporate supporters.

Teams from United Molasses, Clarksons Platou and Tindall Riley took to the water in aid of Seafarers UK, rowing from London Docklands, under Tower Bridge, past the Houses of Parliament, under Putney Bridge, and finally crossing the line to the sound of the Official Cannon in Richmond upon Thames!

The teams collectively raised over £14,000 for Seafarers UK. Our sincere

thanks go to the race organisers, and of course the teams that took part in what is a true festival of self-propelled seamanship!

local area. Fundraising has been a major part of their plan to bring the maritime community closer together.

Since launching in April 2015, Seawives has supported Seafarers UK in their fundraising, primarily through their participation in our ‘Get Stripey’ day. Jo and Louise went above and beyond to register schools in the Pembrokeshire area for the campaign, and in so doing helped raise awareness of seafaring and a life at sea.

In addition to this, Jo recently completed the Llanelli Half Marathon in aid of Seafarers UK and raised £300. Jo has also signed up to run for Seafarers UK in next year’s Virgin London Marathon.

We would like to thank Seawives for its ongoing support and look forward to working with this exciting project in the future.

together the teams have raised more than

£14,000

For more information about seawives please visit the website at www.seawives.com.

www.seafarers.uk 15

Fundraising News

Virgin Money London Marathon 16 April

supporting seafarers Day 23 June

24 Peaks Challenge 2 and 3 July

ride London 31 July

Great river race 3 September

FINd OUT MOReFor more information about any of these events and to register, please contact our Fundraising Events Officer, Hannah Scopp, at [email protected] or on 020 7932 0000.

events 2016

24 Peaks Challenge Triumph

24 peaks in 24 hours, all over 2,400 feet – sound simple enough? As this year’s 24 Peaks teams made their way through the mist to ascend Red Pike (2,142ft), they probably did not share this sentiment. Over the following two days the teams battled wind, rain and the occasional sunny spell, and were tested physically and mentally as they summited 24 of the toughest peaks across the Lake District.

24 Peaks 2015, was certainly the most international challenge event we have ever had. We welcomed individuals and teams from India, China, Ukraine and Germany. For the first time ever a Seafarers UK beneficiary charity took part in the challenge. Staff from the Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society joined

in as part of their 150th anniversary commemorations, and certainly won the prize for the most upbeat team over the weekend. Bernhard Schulte GmbH from Hamburg took home the title and trophy for ‘Top Fundraiser’, raising well over £6,000! The new 24 Peaks Ambassador Award went to long-term 24 Peaks participants Teekay Shipping, as they entered four teams from the London and Glasgow offices.

James Pippard, Vice President of Chartering at Teekay Shipping (pictured with his team at the finish line), said:‘The Seafarers UK 24 Peaks Challenge is a brilliant event that we at Teekay love for its sheer craziness. Wandering off at dawn to climb so many beautiful peaks in the Lake District is a great way to strengthen your team. We have learnt a lot about how we work under extreme pressure (always aching, exhausted, cold, wet, blistered, tired of rocks and occasionally slightly lost) and when we finish we are a better team for it.’

Amidst all the pain and gain of the challenge it is easy to forget why the teams take on this toughest of challenges in the first place – to support seafarers in need across

the maritime community. To these ends the teams raised a superb £70,000, and there is still more to come in! All of us here at Seafarers UK would like to offer our sincere thanks once again to all those who literally and metaphorically went that extra mile to support seafarers and their families most in need.

If you would like to register for the 24 Peaks Challenge 2016, or would like more information about the event please contact our Fundraising events Officer, Hannah scopp, at [email protected]

win up to £10,000 in our Forces Lotterythe Forces Lottery helps us raise vital funds in support of seafarers in need and their families. it costs from as little as £1 to enter, giving you a chance to win up to £10,000, plus many more prizes each week. And up to 50p of every £1 goes directly towards supporting our work. we hope you will choose to join our lottery and wish you the very best of luck.

together the teams have raised more than

£14,000


Bristol Committee was beavering away at the Bristol Harbour Festival, while Felixstowe held their delightful Riverside Summer Evening of Music and Strawberries.

August We waved a fond farewell to Scotland Regional Representative Captain Nick Davies RN. After seven years of tireless work, Nick will be spending more time sailing his boat! We all wish him and his wife Jane a happy future; they’ll be greatly missed. Nick’s relief is Captain John Hood (pictured below), who has recently retired from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. John joined the fundraising team on 1 September and is very much looking forward to working with our charity – with a little help from his wife Freda should the need arise!

september One of the most exciting events this year was Merchant Navy Day on 3 September (see page 13). Some of our committees took part in a variety of Red Ensign raising ceremonies; 200 local authorities were encouraged by Seafarers UK to get involved. We’re extremely grateful to all the loyal and hard-working volunteers – your support is helping seafarers in need around the country. thank you!

It’s been a particularly busy few months for our volunteers and committees nationwide.June Seafarers UK returned to Dorking, where the Royal Marines Band joined two local school choirs for their annual concert. Once more our thanks go to local businessman Sir Adrian White for his generous sponsorship.

Pembroke Committee organised their annual garden party at the Dale Castle.

July East Yorkshire Committee arranged for the Royal Marines Band Scotland to venture south to Hull for the city’s first Seafarers UK concert.

This was soon followed by our annual Eastbourne Concert at the Congress Theatre – probably the best attended Eastbourne concert ever.

The annual Seafarers UK Golf Day took place at Southwick Park near Portsmouth and featured a record 22 teams. Sponsorship from Hedge End Golf Centre and Fullers helped make a hugely enjoyable day even better. Note the next Golf Day is already booked for 25 July 2016, should you want to join in!

The edinburgh Military TattooSeafarers UK was invited to attend this year’s Tattoo and took along a party of supporters who enjoyed a truly memorable evening of military and contemporary music and dance from around the globe. The East Meets West evening was topped off with a spectacular firework display.

Community News

Community news the latest updates

Photos courtesy of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

www.seafarers.uk 17

In Memoriam

In MemoriamWe’d like to thank the families and friends of those recently deceased, who have chosen to support Seafarers UK in their memory.

Mrs Ruby Brougham

Mr D E Cooper

Mr David Dyer

Mr Allan Florence

Captain John Alistair Patrick Fuery (E) RN

Mr Albert Grover

Mr Peter Guilor

Mr Will Headon

Mrs A L Herzberg

Mr Donald Holland

Mr Bill Jackson (Died May 1941)

Lieutenant Commander Richard Meynall Lees

Find out more For more information, please contact Carole Hunt on 020 7932 5986 or [email protected]

Leave a lasting legacy to our seafarersBy 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. Last year Seafarers UK gave £2.5m in funding to more than 70 maritime charities and organisations. Seafarers UK receives no government funding and is heavily dependent on public donations and legacies to maintain its grant-making programme. Please help us to continue supporting those who risk so much for our island nation by leaving Seafarers UK a gift in your will.

Find out moreto find out more about our work or to request our legacy pack, please call 020 7932 0000 or email [email protected]

SeafarersUK(KingGeorge’sFundforSailors)isaregisteredcharity,number226446,inEngland andWales,incorporatedunderRoyalCharter,andregisteredinScotlandundernumberSC038191.

“I want to help provide a safety net for future seafarers and their families.”

Mr Leon Lindsay

Mr Leslie James Maunder (Les)

Mr George McNaughton

The Rev’d John Andrew George Oliver OBE

Mr John (Jack) Phillpot

Mr Stuart (Bill) Shakespeare

Lady Anne Margaret Sowrey

Mr Phil Steel

Mr Brian Stockford

Mr Victor Telford

Mrs Marjorie Joan Thomson Sime

Mr Allan Florence 24/10/1923 – 02/06/2015Allan Florence served in the royal navy during wwii and participated in the Arctic Convoys on board HMS Activity. As an ex-seafarer he was a member of Seafarers Link, a service funded by Seafarers UK. Seafarers Link gave Allan the opportunity to share his stories with other seafarers and, in his later years, was an important part of his life. in 2014, Allan had two portraits painted by Andrew Festing PrP MBe as part of the Faces of London exhibition, and his family were incredibly proud when they were recently displayed at the artist’s exhibition in Messum’s Gallery, London.

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 know their names, but we acknowledge them all with honour and respect. Allan Florence by Andrew Festing PRP MBE

John was proud to serve his country ... now Erskine is proud to care for us both

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The following people are eligible to apply for care in an Erskine home if they have been assessed by a Social

Worker as being in need of nursing care:

All those eligible for a veterans badge, including: Royal Navy or Royal Marines British Army or Royal Air Force Member of the Home Guard Member of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary National Servicemen UK Merchant Seafarers Veterans Badge Holder Merchant Navy Veterans Badge Holder Spouse widow or widower of those listed above

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www.seafarers.uk 21

Flagship Contents

www.seafarers.uk 19

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www.seafarers.uk 21


Crossword and Jack Chat

prizecrossword

The Cutty Sark

Six solutions that share a common theme are not otherwise defined. The title should help!

There will be a bottle of Cutty Sark whisky for the first correct entry pulled out of Flagship’s bicorn hat after the closing date of 11 January, 2016. Post your entries to: Flagship Crossword, Seafarers UK, 8 Hatherley Street, London Sw1P 2QT

solution to crossword“The Seafarer’s Return” from Flagship 26, Summer 2015.

tHe AnCHOr, OLD sHIP, eIGHt BeLLs, GOLDen HInD, LOrD neLsOn and AnCIent MArIner are all nautical pub names.

JackCHAT

Cartoons by Paul Thomas

Across1 Send in a story – one for the

archives! (4,4)5 See 25 down10 Composed tune for Roger (3-4)11 Upstart even the Morning

Star can’t finish (7)12 Opera producer (3)13 Reformed meat contains

variable quantity of what I like (2,3,2,3)17 Coil unwinds into curves (4)18 Negative trick (3)19 Nudist holding a lycra top is an outdoor type (10) 21 “Oh no, darn me, silly! It doesn’t matter.” (2,4,4)22 Present endless file (3)23 Party corps lodged in ancient city (4)24 Bequests upset women after objective first trial and start of second (10)29 A sense of self-worth is to be found in one God (3)31 Lad takes nest to make new compositions (7)32 Leader flies away from the coast (7)33 Oppose joint vocally with drugs inside (6)34 Agree by getting up close and personal (3,2,3)

Down1 Research fonts of Reformation for cleric (6,9)2 Mostly cold in waterfall (7)3, 4 Coy about deviant pop art

(2-2,5)4 See 3.6 Role I played in “The Flower” in Las Palmas (2,3)7 Old fib is let out (5)8 From afar, tycoon fumed – my fee is extortionate! (3,4,6,2)9 Trekker fronted by Decker in the 80s? (4)13 Drop hesitation at the very least (7)14 Auto pioneer designed tin core (7)15 Republicans decapitated god in port (7)16 Exalted moor was deposed (4)20 Censor remake of Act Zero (4)22 Eternal Spanish city beginning to engage missile (7)25, 5 An eyelid she irritated (5,6)26 Rowers head in all directions (5)27 Stirred teas at 90 degrees (4)28 Reserves very loud, then start yodelling from the valleys? (5)30 Norse leader occupies Channel to

become a prince of Denmark (4)

Hand over fist Doing something quickly and continuously. However, its original nautical sense referred to slow, steady progress, as when pulling something in by a rope. A 1769 marine dictionary defines “main avant” as “the order to pull on a rope hand-over-hand”. “Fist” was presumably substituted as a more accurate description of the movements involved. The expression quickly transferred ashore: in Seba Smith’s The life and writings of Major Jack Downing (1833), gamblers are said to have “clawed the money off of his table, hand over fist”.

In the offing The “offing” (sometimes “offen” or “offin”) was the part of the sea visible from land but beyond the immediate shoreline. A ship “in the offing” was therefore expected to dock before the next tide. It was not used in the general sense of an event that is imminent but not immediate until the 19th century. An early reference comes in the Portland Reference Book and City Directory of 1850: “We have known wives to forget that they had husbands... Especially when they supposed that a tax bill or a notification to do military duty was in the offing.”

Limey Everyone knows the American nickname for Brits comes from the practice of Royal Navy sailors eating limes to ward off scurvy. But the story behind it is less well known. Sir James Lind discovered in 1753 that lemon juice could prevent scurvy, which was rife (and often fatal) in the 18th century Navy, but it was another 40 years until the Lords of the Admiralty introduced lemon juice rations on all His Majesty’s Ships. Lemons had to be expensively imported from the Mediterranean, so cheaper but less effective limes, which grew on British plantations in the West Indies, were substituted in the 19th century. (Rumour has it that some of their Lordships had interests in such plantations!)

Bitter end Although hotly disputed, some claim a nautical origin for this expression, a favourite of Shakespeare’s. The “bitt”, was a post on the deck of a ship used for fastening ropes or cables. So when the rope was played out to the “bitter” end, there was no more rope to be used. But the word “bitter”, meaning acrid or unpleasant tasting, goes back to at least the 8th century, so this straightforward metaphor seems the more probable origin, especially as “going on to the bitter end” usually implies the expectation of an unfavourable outcome.

Copies of Jackspeak: a guide to British Naval Slang and Usage by dr Rick Jolly OBe are available in all major bookshops throughout the UK.

Born in ‘17

www.seafarers.uk 23

Flagship magazine is published by Seafarers UK. Please recycle it once you have finished with it. Online copies are available at www.seafarers-uk.org/about-us/publications/flagship-magazine. 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.

Editor Maria Higham

Editorial enquiries/submissions [email protected]

Change of address notification [email protected]

Advertising

SDB Marketing, Brighton T: 01273 594455 [email protected]

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 facebook.com/SeafarersUK

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Seafarers UK was originally set up in 1917as 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 new title Seafarers UK, the charity continues to do that 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.

Documents

Seafarers UK Flagship Magazine Winter 2015