STARS of the sea

Euan McArthur describes how a Southampton sailor has been raising funds and awareness for the work of Stella Maris, the leading global maritime charity which supports seafarers and fishers.

Russ Fairman’s 2,136-nauticalmile journey, which began on 29 April 2023 in Southampton, took him around the UK with stops at fifty ports before its conclusion in Portsmouth on 9 July, Sea Sunday.

Those stops included Gravesend, Harwich and Grimsby, before arriving in Scotland to take in Leith, Tayport, Stonehaven, Peterhead, Stornoway, Lochboisdale in the Outer Hebrides, Oban, Campbeltown and then Glasgow – the charity’s birthplace in 1920.

Stella Maris, formerly known as the Apostleship of the Sea, was founded on the banks of the River Clyde when Glasgow was the world’s largest shipbuilding centre.

Russ, who led the pilgrimage on board the ‘Mintaka’, a 34ft sailboat, docked in Yorkhill Pontoon on 10 June before joining up with supporters of the charity the next day for a service of celebration in the Jesuit church of St Aloysius, Glasgow, led by Fr John Twist SJ.

Russ reflected: ‘Glasgow was the major highlight for this pilgrimage. It was great just being back where it all began, especially in St Aloysius.

‘The charity has a special connection with this wonderful city. It’s easy to see why it was founded here when you witness how supportive people are towards the mission and consider the shipbuilding heritage.’

The initiative was originally planned to take place in 2020 to mark the charity’s centenary, but three years later it still captured the imaginations of people across the country, none more so than Glaswegian Derek Wright, who joined a leg of the journey in mid-June from Glasgow down to Stranraer.

Derek is a parish contact for the charity in St Cadoc’s, Newton Mearns, near Glasgow, where he faithfully carries out the annual Sea Sunday appeal. ‘I have volunteered for Stella Maris for a few years’, says Derek. ‘When I heard about the sailing pilgrimage, I immediately thought I would like to take part.

Glasgow was a highlight of this pilgrimage. It was great being back where it all began, especially in St Aloysius.

‘I have sailed on and off for a few years and it sounded like a wonderful opportunity, for the sailing and spiritual aspects. I thought it was a fantastic way to mark the centenary of Stella Maris.

‘It was amazing setting off from the centre of Glasgow at the Riverside

Museum and travelling all the way down the Clyde. It was like a journey through time, passing by the historic shipyards, then seeing the Clyde slowly open up to the sea as we passed towns where Stella Maris has always had a strong presence, such as Greenock.

‘Russ wanted to encircle Britain with a ring of prayer and took time to send out thoughts and prayers for the people of these towns as we sailed past.’

Derek was driven by his father’s seafaring background and admits the experience is likely to remain with him forever. ‘My dad was a merchant seaman and travelled all over the world. I was fortunate enough to travel on a couple of voyages on cargo ships as a child with him and my mum.

‘I would love to do another trip with Russ, who was a constant source of inspiration and positive presence, because to help Stella Maris and the seafarers is just a brilliant thing to do.’

GET ON BOARD!

Stella Maris provides a range of services, including welfare, practical, and emotional support, pastoral care and chaplaincy services. Find out more at stellamaris.org.uk