Flying Angel News
News from The Mission to Seafarers | May 2016 | Issue 17
Congratulations to Her Majesty The Queen, Patron of The Mission to Seafarers, on her 90th birthday In this issue of FAN:
Partnership in Practice Working together for seafarers’ welfare in South Tees
‘Not Adequately Protected’ Carly Fields on why armed guards ‘fall between the cracks’
Plus:
• Ken Peters in conversation with Koji Sekimizu • The final part of ‘A Mission to Seafarers’ • Visit Mission gardens around the world • Read the sermon for Sea Sunday 2016
Contents
From the
Secretary General
In this issue...
Revd Andrew Wright
A Mission to Seafarers Part three of Horatio Clare’s exploration of the Mission’s rich archives
Dear Friends, Welcome to this new edition of FAN. One of the great privileges of being Secretary General is to have the opportunity of seeing much of the work of The Mission to Seafarers in action across the world. It is always my hope that FAN can convey some of the vigour and excitement that I see for myself, that it can reflect the passion and commitment of our chaplaincy and centre teams and the extraordinary nature of their life-changing work. It is also my hope that FAN readers will get some sense of the challenges we face. The shipping industry is undergoing much change and we have to be flexible and creative in response – entrepreneurial is a word I often find myself using! The needs of seafarers and their families remain very significant, and our work as vital as it has been at any time over these last 160 years. It has been especially pleasing in these last months to see a further family project opening – in Myanmar – and to see a number of significant port developments taking shape. In our Europe Region we have been going through a number of changes, but our work remains very strong. It has been good to welcome our new Regional Director for Europe who joined us at the end of February. In this edition of FAN, we join the country in celebrating the 90th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, Patron of The Mission to Seafarers. You will read about our plans for Sea Sunday – still so essential in building that supportive partnership with the Church which is fundamental to all that we do. The Mission to Seafarers has been at the forefront of partnership building over many years and we remain absolutely committed to building partnerships of many kinds. They are good for seafarers and they ensure the best use of resources. Working together effectively requires effort but it always makes good sense. This is likely to be an ongoing theme in the months and years ahead as maritime missions and welfare organisations adapt to the emerging context.
Partnership in Practice
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Armed Guards ‘Not Adequately Protected’ Carly Fields aks why armed guards ‘fall between the cracks’
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Gardens of the Mission Read about a selection of global Mission gardens
Regulars Mission news Fundraising news
I am just about to spend three days aboard a containership, to experience a little more of the seafaring life. I will report back to you all next time!
Andrew Wright Secretary General Editor: Ben Alcraft Address: St Michael Paternoster Royal, College Hill, London EC4R 2RL UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7248 5202 Email: pressoffice@missiontoseafarers.org
0300 555 1505
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Working together for seafarers’ welfare
As ever, please accept my profound thanks for the ongoing interest and support of all FAN readers. Please enjoy reading these pages.
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Registered charity number: 1123613
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Mission News Mission launches in Myanmar
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he Mission to Seafarers have launched a new Mission centre close to the Department of Marine Administration in Yangon. There are also plans to develop a drop-in centre close to Hutchinson Port’s Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa (MITT), a deep water port 16 miles south of Yangon, later on this year. The Yangon Mission will be managed by Mr George Ko Ko Gyi who holds a master mariner’s license and started life at sea as a deck cadet in 1994. He will be assisted by Mr Mya Min Tun who will arrange a 3 day ship-visiting programme, administer the main centre and provide day to day support and advice for seafarers and their families. Mr Anthony Nightingale, Chairman of The Mission to Seafarers Hong Kong, said: “I am delighted to see the opening of The Mission to Seafarers in Yangon Myanmar, which has come after a year of
careful planning, research and negotiations with the local church, the port authority and our Mission Committee here in Hong Kong. Funds raised by The Mission to Seafarers in Hong Kong for this purpose, amounting to US$30,000, were provided along with strategic support for the project after the MtS Global Review of Ports project identified a strong need for seafarers to have access to support and care in this port. I wish to thank our Regional Director for East Asia the Revd Canon Stephen Miller who led the delivery team and worked within a highly complex political and legal landscape to bring our vital maritime welfare work for seafarers to Myanmar’s most important port. Yangon accounts for over 90 per cent of all imports and exports to the country and it has expanded capacity from around 1m tons to 3m tons since 1996.”
Answering the call – partnering with the Brisbane Marine Pilots
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n 7 March 2016 Brisbane Marine Pilots (BMP) received a phone call from David Ellis, President of The Mission to Seafarers Brisbane, regarding a seafarer that had been airlifted from his ship – Phoenix Light – to the Nambour Hospital following a suspected stroke. The Filipino seafarer, Benido Matugas (Ben) found himself in a strange hospital, alone, confused, physically impaired and many miles away, and out of contact from his family and shipmates. The short term prognosis for Ben was for two weeks to be spent being observed, and a further two weeks undertaking rehabilitation before possibly being able to return back the Philippines. Every year, The Mission to Seafarers is faced with responding to medical emergencies, recognising that most seafarers will be seeking emotional support following an accident or illness that sees them removed from their work place with no notice, finding themselves in a foreign hospital without their shipmates and with no communication with home. In this instance, Ben was in a hospital that was not near the Mission’s Brisbane centre but located in reasonably close proximity to the Brisbane Marine Pilots (BMP) station at Mooloolaba. With a small number of resident pilots based on the Sunshine Coast, the call went out from the Mission to BMP to see if any pilots could grab a ‘hospital pack’ from the Mission and assist with attending Ben’s bedside to bring a smiling face and that much needed emotional support normally provided by the Mission. The call was answered and without wasting time, two BMP pilots – Peter Liley and Andrew Cambridge – had dropped whatever they were doing to travel out to the Nambour Hospital to visit
BMP’s purpose-built pilot boat, the Spitfire
Ben. They provided that initial contact that brought a smile to a scared seafarer’s face, and over the following days brought small but meaningful items that would engage Ben while he lay in bed, ultimately assisting in his rehabilitation and most importantly providing a means for him to connect with his family. Peter and Andrew continued to visit Ben in Nambour and then subsequently Caloundra hospital. Without their assistance, Ben’s rehabilitation could well have been prolonged and more complicated, given the importance of a positive psychological outlook when in hospital receiving treatment. The response to this incident has highlighted the invaluable bond between The Mission to Seafarers and Brisbane Marine Pilots. The Memorandum of Understanding established between The Mission to Seafarers Brisbane and Brisbane Marine Pilots in 2015 has already brought significant benefits to both parties but ultimately the benefits are to the many seafarers that ply Australia’s waters and ports on a 24/7 basis, 365 days a year. Written by Capt. Ross Nicholls, Brisbane Marine Pilots
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Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | May 2016 | Issue 17
News
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n Sunday 12 June 2016, The Mall in St James’s Park will be transformed for its largest ever street party to celebrate The Queen’s patronage of over 600 charities and organisations, including The Mission to Seafarers, on the occasion of her 90th birthday. The Patron’s Lunch will be the climax to a fantastic weekend of celebrations. It will begin with a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday 10 June followed by Trooping the Colour on Saturday 11 June and culminating in The Patron’s Lunch as the celebratory finale on the Sunday. The Patron’s Lunch will be an iconic event recognising the un-relenting support and service our Monarch has given to the community over her 63 year reign. And it is this commitment to helping others that is cause for a National and Commonwealth wide celebration, with the very people she has helped over the decades being at the centre of this event. The Mission will be hosting a table for volunteers and supporters at the Patron’s Lunch. Visit wwww.thepatronslunch.com for more information.
600+ Organisations
90 Years
10000 Lunch Guests
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Unique Patron
Photographs from the Mission’s archive of Her Majesty The Queen attending events at The Mission to Seafarers in 1949
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New Mission Film Series Launched with Ken Peters The Mission to Seafarers has launched a new series of video interviews on YouTube. The ‘In discussion with…’ films feature Director of Justice and Public Affairs the Revd Canon Ken Peters talking informally with some of the world’s most influential maritime leaders about their life and work.
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e plans to interview men and women across all sectors of the industry at pivotal points in their careers as they embark on a new challenge or take a new direction. The series starts with an interview with Koji Sekimizu, the former Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which was filmed at the IMO at the end of last year. Koji’s leadership at the IMO concluded at the end of 2015 and Ken talks to him about his achievements whilst directing the world’s most important shipping advisory body. The IMO is the United Nations’ specialized agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships. You can watch the video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/t4Lk9YvnX7E. Ken’s next interview is with Dr Cleo Doumbia-Henry formerly Director of International Labour Standards at the International Labour Organization and who has been appointed recently as the President of the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden. Dr Doumbia-Henry has played a key role in the adoption of the Maritime Labour Convention. The second film will be published in June, again on the Mission’s YouTube channel.
What exactly is IMO?
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he International Maritime Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations which is responsible for measures to improve the safety and security of international shipping and to prevent pollution from ships. It is also involved in legal matters, including liability and compensation issues and the facilitation of international maritime traffic. It was established by means of a Convention adopted under the auspices of the United Nations in Geneva on 17 March 1948 and met for the first time in January 1959. It currently has 171 Member States. IMO’s governing body is the Assembly which is made up of all the Member States and meets normally once every two years. It adopts the budget
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for the next biennium together with technical resolutions and recommendations prepared by subsidiary bodies during the previous two years. The Council, of 40 Member States elected by the Assembly, acts as governing body in between Assembly sessions. It prepares the budget and work programme for the Assembly. The main technical work is carried out by the Maritime Safety, Marine Environment Protection, Legal, Technical Co-operation and Facilitation Committees and a number of sub-committees. The IMO slogan sums up its objectives: Safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans. The current Secretary-General is Mr. Kitack Lim (Republic of Korea).
Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | May 2016 | Issue 17
News
Port Reports Around the World Seattle, Port Everett and Puget Sound USA by Ken Hawkins
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e have had a busy few months at the Mission in Seattle. The number of ships visited is up and there was also a significant increase in the number of seafarers coming to the centre. This month saw four of our volunteer Ship Visitors making regular visits to vessels. In February I continued ship visiting. One ship, whilst impressive in size and capacity, had an unhappy crew. They told me that they were not particularly happy with the accommodation. On another case, I was told by one of the Port Security Officers that one crew member had been detained by the authorities for assaulting another crew member. So I made a visit to the ship concerned. Once off the vessel I spoke to the ITF. The issue of a significant number of seafarers not having US visas remains the same. As part of our plan to develop our ministry to reach others ports on the Puget Sound North of Seattle, we made our first visit to a ship in the Port of Everett, the next port North from Seattle. The crew were happy to see someone from the Mission and asked that we come back next time. Success! There was previously ship visiting done in Everett, but not for several years now, so it is good to be back there and having volunteer Ship Visitors gives us the resources to do that. On average, there are two ships a week in Everett.
Hong Kong, SAR China by the Revd Canon Stephen Miller
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nfortunately the state of local shipping is reaching a very low point, many of the locally run casino ships are finding it hard to operate at a profit. This has led to many seafarers turning to the Mission for help. The latest in such events has been the crew of MV New Imperial Star. 46 crew have approached both the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Mission. At present we are all working to apply for legal aid to take their cases into court. I have provided Ukrainian and Myanmar translators to help the crew fill in their applications. The Mission will also provide provisions until the court bailiff is instructed to take over.
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Auckland, New Zealand by the Revd Khaw Cheng Cheen
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uring the month of March, 28 ships were visited by The Mission to Seafarers out of a total of 60 ships visited by the partner societies of Auckland International Seafarers’ Centre., I was asked by a group of Fijian seafarers on board a ship to help them find and buy bulk foodstuff to take back to Fiji in the aftermath of Cyclone Winston. They were taken in the Mission van to a supermarket in a suburb outside the city centre where foodstuff could be bought in bulk. The seafarers were much appreciative of the help given. This year we have had quite a number of Japanese fishing vessels calling on the Port of Auckland to replenish their provisions after being out for about two months plus in the open sea fishing. The Indonesian crew came into the centre, so the WiFi and telephones were kept busy. As most of them couldn’t speak English, translations of basic instructions into the Indonesian language was very helpful to them. They were surprised when they discovered that I could communicate with them in their language!
Dunkerque, France by the Revd Ben Humphries
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n Easter Day two Filipino members of the crew of the Maltese-registered vessel contacted me with a list of eight grievances, including lack of provisions and clean water, under-expenditure, on provisions, lack of shore leave, no on-board salary, under-manning, underpayment of wages, racial discrimination and lack of compassionate leave. I was able to liaise with the ITF Inspector who visited the vessel to resolve the issues to the satisfaction of the crew. I made a pastoral visit to an injured seafarer last month in the Berck sur Mer Hospital. I took part in the Ecumenical Easter Day sunrise service on Dunkerque beach. I led the chapel prayers for seafarers throughout the month as usual.
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Fundraising News
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n Sea Sunday churches all over the world come together to remember seafarers and pray for them, their families and those who support them. The Mission to Seafarers needs your prayers and support for all merchant crews and their families on Sea Sunday 2016, to continue our vital work for those in need. For more information about Sea Sunday, or to download and order materials, please visit www.seasunday.org. This year’s Sea Sunday Sermon is printed in full below.
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The Gospel for Sunday 10 July 2016 Luke 10:25-37 The Mission to Seafarers is 160 years old this year. Since 1856 it has been an integral part of the outreach of the Church of England and of the whole Anglican Communion. 160 may not be one of the ‘big ones’ in terms of anniversaries but it is a venerable age and a good time both to reflect on the past and look to the future. The Bible is packed with stories about people setting out on journeys. Abraham is called to leave his home and his people and set out on a journey to a new land. The story is full of hope and promise but the length and outcome of the journey are uncertain. Mary and Joseph set out for Bethlehem. The disciples are sent on a missionary adventure which involves leaving so much behind. “Take nothing for the journey, no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.” Jesus sets out for Jerusalem. None of these journeys would be easy but the promise behind all of them is of future hope and blessing. Our Gospel, that Good Samaritan story so familiar to us all, speaks of some of the perils of journeying and of the life-changing impact of hospitality and love shown by strangers to those far from home. Today we give thanks for the work and inspiration of The Mission to Seafarers and our founder, the Revd John Ashley. For all who have heard God’s call to build his kingdom among seafarers and who have stepped out in faith, not knowing quite where the journey might lead. They have all been integral to the Mission’s long story. They realised that it was a journey that would bring many difficulties and challenges, but they were clear that it was one inspired by the God who would travel with them. The Mission started in a small way with its work in the Bristol Channel but now delivers its ministry in over 200 ports in 50 countries. As in the parable of Jesus, the small “mustard seed” planted 160 years ago has become a tree in whose branches countless seafarers have been able to find shelter. The Mission’s famous “flying angel” logo, reminding us of our fundamental mission commitment to share the love of God revealed in Jesus across the world, is respected by seafarers everywhere. When the Mission set out in faith on its 160
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A church congregation celebrating Sea Sunday 2015
year journey there was no knowing where it might end. We believe, however, that like so many of those earlier Bible journeys, it is one which has brought abundant life and blessing to generations of seafarers. All biblical travellers, from Abraham through to Paul and beyond, knew very well the perils and hardships of land and sea. Today we may travel very differently and usually in greater comfort, but many of the challenges are similar to those of long ago. Journeys often take us far from family and friends and from all that is familiar – they can be lonely. They can take us through, or to, remote and inhospitable places. They are often complicated by language and communication difficulties. Journeys will often involve uncertainty, discomfort, delay and even danger. The 160 year story of The Mission to Seafarers has been focused on one particular group of travellers who know all these things so well. There are around 1.5 million seafarers and many more if you include those involved in fishing. We are all absolutely dependent on their efforts, although so few of us these days seem aware of the fact that over 90 per cent of those things that sustain our daily lives come by sea. Medicines, food, fuel, cars, machinery, furniture, computers, raw materials, all reach our shores by ship. Seafarers contact us at the Mission for many reasons. In many cases shipping contracts are very long – sometimes ten months or a year in duration. This means being separated from home and family for very significant periods of time. This reality can bring many stresses – and often feelings of intense isolation or powerlessness, particularly when crew become aware of problems at home. It means spending most of your life at sea with only brief time in ports, ports which will frequently be remote and sometimes hostile. In response, The Mission to Seafarers offers a warm welcome, a hospitable and safe Seafarers’ Centre facility (including the internet access which is so important). We arrange transport, enabling seafarers to access Centres and, where possible, to connect with local church communities. Maybe there is a medical issue or the need for a visit to the pharmacy. And of course we ensure access to a place of worship, to a service on board and to personal prayer wherever and whenever that is appropriate. Life at sea is a hidden life and in the more unpleasant corners of the world crews still all too frequently are victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Seafarers can be the victims of piracy or face unjust imprisonment. And life at sea remains a dangerous one. Mission chaplains are always quick to respond to emergency and deal with
Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | May 2016 | Issue 17
Fundraising seafarers who have been injured, taken ill or, tragically, with the aftermath of bereavement.
all Mission work lies that gospel imperative to recognise and aid a neighbour in every human being. When Abraham set out on his long and uncertain journey, he went with the promise that it would somehow result in the abundant blessing of many. The disciples, sent out like lambs among wolves, as it is put a few chapters later in Luke, bring good news and healing and no doubt changed many lives for the better. The Mission to Seafarers remains equally committed, amidst much that is difficult and challenging, by deed and word to be a blessing to seafarers and to share in the building of God’s kingdom.
Our fundamental purposes not only commit us to working with seafarers but also with their families. 2015 saw the development all oveR thE woRlD as We mArK 160 yeArs Of cElebRatiNg sEafaRers reLy oN evEry DaY of two exciting new family who worK tiReleSsly to BrinG us gooDs wE projects for the Mission, one in the Philippines and one in Ukraine. Manila is the home of modern seafaring. The number of seafarers that come from the far east is around 37 per cent. Our work there has been based on the Citizens Advice Bureau model, so well-known and successful here in the UK. In Odessa, Ukraine, we have started an internet training scheme to ensure families can stay in touch through all new channels of communications.
Many of you will know the story of that renowned seafarer, Ernest Shackleton, and of his famous Endurance Expedition. It is an extraordinary tale of a ship wrecked on the Antarctic Coast, of 28 crew marooned among the freezing ice and living under upturned lifeboats with little hope of rescue. It tells the story of Shackleton’s decision to set out on an open boat, with just six companions, and cross 800 miles of some of the stormiest waters in the world in an attempt to reach South Georgia. From the whaling stations there he would be able to summon help and return for the men left behind on Elephant Island. After much hardship the boat was driven ashore by a hurricane on the inhospitable southern shore of that island. No further voyage using the boat was possible. Together with two others, Shackleton set out to cross the unknown, uncharted and almost impossible mountain ranges and glaciers of South Georgia. It took them a brutal 36 hours but they did reach help and every man was eventually rescued.
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Registered charity no: 1123613 (England and Wales) and SCO41938 (Scotland)
Much of the early work of The Mission to Seafarers was conducted from dedicated small ships which would enable chaplains to access crews while they were out at anchor. In some of our ports such work continues today. On one occasion, in the 1880s, a pastoral call was made in the midst of a storm by the Revd Thomas Treanor. The descriptions of this visit suggest that it was extremely hazardous. As the chaplain climbed a swinging rope, in the midst of a howling gale, a voice from a seafarer at the rail above was heard to say, “there must be something in religion!”
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Sea Sunday is a special time for us to recognise and thank all seafarers who work under extremely difficult and dangerous circumstances. Loneliness, isolation, abandonment, limited contact with family and even shipwreck are just some of the conditions seafarers often face. The Mission to Seafarers is proud to have supported and cared for seafarers for the last 160 years and we are passionate about providing crucial and urgent support to the 1.5 million seafarers across the globe.
Afterwards Shackleton wrote that during that almost unendurable last 36 hours he and the others had an uncanny sense of the presence of a fourth person. When I look back, he wrote, “it seemed to me often that we were four, not three”. Many seafarers we speak with around the world attest to a sense of God in the midst of their voyages. As for the 160 year journey of the Mission, one that has had its fair share of storm, we too can give thanks in the knowledge that we have not travelled alone. The God whom even wind and wave obey has been with us. For that we give thanks. And we ask that as we face a new decade our journey may, like that of Abraham and the disciples, bring hope and blessing to the seafarers we serve.
Behind all Mission work lies that deep sense of Christian purpose, such purpose as drove our founder the Revd John Ashley forward, a man who had visited more than 14,000 ships during his lifetime. Behind
Challenge events – we dare you!
Andy Winbow, who became a Trustee of The Mission to Seafarers in 2016, has been supporting the Mission through his long distance cycling challenges for many years. Andy said: “I am delighted to recommend these new challenges to supporters of this great international charity. I have taken part in a number of Mission cycling events, including the London Nightrider challenge, and it is a fantastic opportunity to get a team of friends together and put yourself to the test.”
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laces are now available for supporters to join The Mission to Seafarers’ challenge events, which take place this summer. The classic London to Paris five day Cycle Challenge kicks off on 31 August this year, or for runners and cyclists the Mission is offering you the chance to take on the famous one day Morpeth, Northumberland to Newcastle upon Tyne (M2N) challenge. This year the M2N organisers are arranging a run and cycle route together for the very first time!
London Nightrider
For more information please see page 16 or visit www.missiontoseafarers.org/support-us/events
Mission receives £147k grant
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he Mission has received a grant of £147,000 from Seafarers UK. The grant will provide much needed support for port welfare services in the UK and Commonwealth, including the ports of Mombasa, Kenya and Humber and Immingham in the UK. Trevor O’Farrell, Trusts and Foundations
Manager said; “Once again we are extremely grateful for the generosity shown by the Seafarers UK Trustees and their supportive staff. There are very few charities that specifically fund Seafarer’s welfare, which is why Seafarers UK continued support is so important for our work.”
Fundraise for The Mission to Seafarers! We need your help! Could you organise a coffee morning or quiz night, or would you like to literally go that extra mile and take on a run or challenge event in aid of The Mission to Seafarers? These events can be a great way to get people together, have fun, and raise funds for seafarers at the same time. We can offer tips, advice and resources to help ensure that your event is a huge success. To find out more, visit www.missiontoseafarers.org/support-us www.missiontoseafarers.org
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A Mission to Seafarers by Horatio Clare
Author and journalist, Horatio Clare, returns to The Mission to Seafarers’ archives for the third and final part of his journey into “a portrait of a sea of faith, and goodwill to men”. Part three
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Archive boxes holding images from the Mission’s archives
oor Reverend Nibbs. As he foresees the unleashing of forces and consequences which will eventually undo so much of the work of people like him, shrivelling faiths and congregations, his distress is loud in his uncharacteristically mangled syntax. War reaches Calcutta with a German cruiser, the Emden, which does a thorough job on British shipping in the Bay of Bengal. “The Emden has sunk the following ships outward bound from Calcutta,” Nibbs writes, “Diplomat, Lovat, Indus, Drabbock, and Killin, placing all their crews on the Kabinga, which is returning to Calcutta with them. The Lovat and the Indus were transports. We are wondering what has happened to the Mashobra and the City of Rangoon, which went out about the same time.” The Revd Nibbs, like everyone else, one senses, after the shock of the outbreak of war, gets on with doing whatever must be done. His homegoing is attended by many parties, speeches and articles praising his spirit and endeavours. The voyage passes off well, despite persons unknown shooting at ships from the banks of the Suez Canal. He takes over the Mission in Ostend in 1916, but then becomes a chaplain in the Royal Navy based in Hull, returning to take over the Mission in Ostend and Zeebrugge in 1919. In that year he is presented with a suitcase, a gift from sailors and firemen from the city, intended as “a little memento of their regard”. The presentation was made by William Jessop, 70, of Hull, who must have been one of the older merchant seamen to have served through the war, and who held the record for being torpedoed – seven times. He said: “You begin to get used to it. I used to lose my belongings, and on getting ashore make my way to the Posterngate (Hull!) where we sailors gather, and the port chaplain would say, ‘you back again, Joseph,’ and would fit me out again.” The reference to the return of Joseph of Canaan to his family after his apparent death is very pleasing. Our grandparents had a frame of reference spanning both testaments, with which many adults now are unfamiliar. I am not religious in the church-going sense, though I feel faith, but the further I went into the archive the stronger grew my sense of what we as a people and a nation have lost; the belief that the daily labour of being does not end with gas in the car, a roof overhead and food on the table, but is also in the service of a something wider
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The Hull History Centre where the Mission’s archives are stored
and deeper, and, to our forbears, tangible. In the Revd Nibbs’ case the statistics of numbers of ship visits, and ministrations in hospitals and in church, conceals the immense achievement of his work. This is not the case with my next find, William H Noble, who worked in the Solent from his base in Cowes in 1929. William H Noble worked from the Eirene IV, a former RNLI lifeboat, taken over by the Mission to Seamen. Her predeccessors began with the SS Eirene, which served crews in the Bristol Channel from 1841, with the Revd John Ashley, the Mission’s founder, at her spiritual helm. The second was stationed at Ryde from 1895. She was wrecked on Ryde pier in November 1928. Eirene III was sunk during the war in the
Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | May 2016 | Issue 17
Feature The joy of Noble’s journal is not the thrilling kind; there is much vile weather and good seamanship but this is not the stuff great yarns are made of. Rather, its pleasure lies in its portrait of a vanished world. Here are services held for five men, “Now thank we all our God” sung on board all manner of craft, the tireless delivery of literature, smokes, letters, flowers, newspapers – sometimes bundled up and thrown between ships when the waves are high – presents to “Irish R.Cs” of woollen hats, the receiving of gifts of fish (“Sunday 4th Oct A large nune fish was handed over the side to us as an offering from the depths of the sea”), the singing of ‘Fight the Good Fight’ on Warner, gratifying comments in bad weather (“We didn’t expect to see you today!”) and queries (“When are you coming to us again?”) and gratified sailors: “An old Exmouth lad was glad to have a muffler”.
Bristol Channel. Eirene IV was captained by W.T.Brooker “under the supervision of the Reader in Charge (W H Noble)”. The story of William H Noble, his captain and their craft is recorded in Noble’s diary. It reads like a hunter’s game book. Without radio, and with no way of knowing what if any craft they would find on their tireless expeditions, all Eirene IV’s works began with a search.
18th October, 1929 Motored to Cowes. Nothing in Roads. November 3rd Slipped moorings at 10.45, motored out. Wind north west light – set sails – Tide against us. We continued going to Nab. The wind freshened with the ebb tide – arrived ‘Warner’ 12.15. By this time there was too much wind and sea to go on to the Nab, we should not have been able to land. Dinner was just over. We had a welcome cup of tea with a hearty welcome. Distributed the literature, smokes, Brooker had bought some apples, and a beautiful white chrsyanthemum in a pot (these men have quite a small garden on board).
“The gift I took from the corner of the archive I explored...is a portrait of a sea of faith, and goodwill to men. I glimpsed a nation, indeed half a world, in which the cables of God, Country, kith and kind were so strong it must have seemed they would last forever” The Nab is a lighthouse built on an abortive Great War defence tower; Warner a lightship. Archive film on YouTube shows Noble’s predecessors delivering Christmas presents to her crew in 1926, winching them aboard by breeches buoy. Scarves, hats, two unplucked fowls and various vegetations are displayed for the camera. The men of Warner were a regular standby for Noble and Brooker – often, when they could not find a boat to serve, they fell back on her.
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It all takes place in a busy, peopled sea. “Strong swell increased by the wash of destroyers coming in made landing difficult,” Noble reports. Landing on the Nab he has to resort to a dingy because of “heavy swell caused by liners and warships”. The men of the Nab and Warner relied upon him for all their mail. As well as the passages of HMS Warspite, HMS Albany and HMS Westminster, Noble records visits to schooners from Peel bound for Briton Ferry, ketches for Antwerp, schooners from Barrow, boats on passage for Weymouth, Rotherhithe, Ipswich and London – and all working merchant craft, whose crews welcomed poppies in November, gifts at Christmas and fags, flowers and newspapers at any time of year. My favourite entry records a service on the Nab light tower, which stood on the platform atop the structure. “There, with wonderful view of sea, sky and sunset, Hampshire and Isle of Wight coast – our Eirene IV like a swan in comparison with the great building far below – we had a little service. Bible reading and prayers – I am with you always was the message – no separation from Him. I have conducted many services but never one like this. It seemed as if “The Master” was very near to us.” I do not mean to romanticise a former time. The passings of empire, of Britain’s great Navy, of the social conditions of the country and its seafarers in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the pyramids of wealth, privilege and their opposites are not to be mourned. But the gift I took from the corner of the archive I explored – and my notebooks are fat with enough material for several more articles of this length – is a portrait of a sea of faith, and goodwill to men. I glimpsed a nation, indeed half a world, in which the cables of God, Country, kith and kind were so strong it must have seemed they would last forever. The sheer volume of work done by men like Oliver, Nibbs and Noble is God, whether you believe in him or whether you sneer at the idea. Consider the staggering numbers of acts of kindness done by priests and associates of the various institutions who minister to seafarers in the name of God over the last two centuries. What is that, if not a noble kind of love? And what is God, if not that? I took the title for a book about ships and seafarers from Psalm 107: “They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters, they see the workings of the Lord and His wonders in the deep.” It did not occur to me, until I went to Hull, that those wonders could be entirely man-made.
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Partnership in Practice! Alèxe Finlay, The Mission to Seafarers South Tees, tells us about working in partnership.
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hat does Sea Sunday mean to the Mission to Seafarers, South Tees Station? In a way, the same as Sea Monday, Sea Tuesday, etc. It is a day when the South Tees’ team of Mission to Seafarers’ and Apostleship of the Sea people “get on and do”. As it is a special day, we will be joining in with local events, particularly with the team at North Tees and Hartlepool, and, with the Apostleship of the Sea, speaking at nearby churches. However, the “day job” is what concentrates our minds. We have come to a new working arrangement over the past year owing to the retirement of both the Mission chaplains who used to work on the river Tees – partnership in practice. Let’s put our Mission into context. Owing to the geographical nature of the area, there are two separate Flying Angel Clubs, and here we are talking about South Tees, the south side of the river, home to one of the UK’s leading ports, where the stock in trade for many decades has been iron ore, steel, bulk cargoes, petrochemicals and container traffic. Iron ore and steel – there’s the rub. The north east of England took more than a battering from the storms in the third quarter of 2015 because for the second time in four years the steel industry closed, the iron ore stopped being delivered, and this time it is final. The pessimist would say that 30 per cent of the cargo throughput disappeared, but the pragmatist would say that there is still 70 per cent of the vessel traffic, and, as importantly, the seafarers, to serve correctly and professionally. If seafarers are treated properly and nurtured, vessel traffic management will be safer and more secure, which is the paramount concern of the maritime community. South Tees (follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ MissiontoseafarersSouthTees) has practised self sufficiency for many years and knows it has to sustain this from 2020 and beyond, but if seafarer numbers drop, there is very little the Flying Angel Club can do to influence and encourage inward investment and the generation of new and creative ways of securing new marine traffic. Or is there? South Tees’ Mission thinks there is, hence “partnership in practice”. Outwardly, South Tees Mission provides just the same sorts of services as any other station in the world, and rightly so. There is a chapel, and by the time you read this there will also be a prayer room for Muslim seafarers and a separate place for them to perform their ablutions. There is a minibus – and by the time you read this, a shiny new one – to transport seafarers to and from their vessels, go to supermarkets, local town, doctor, hospital, the usual gamut. The club has a pool table, a darts board and a large flat screen television. Books, clothes and
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Mission volunteer Bronwyn Coulson
DVDs are all free. Wifi is available. Computers are available. Telephones are available. There is a time for a beer, a coffee, a chat, time to talk to home, the availability to buy telephone cards, SIM cards, top up cards, toiletries, confectionery, stationery, stamps. Most of all, there are people to help, to talk to, to listen. This team listens, it understands, it knows what it can do and what it cannot do, it has a referral system. It may be that a chaplain is required, or a ship-visitor, or medical help, or legal help, or employment help. How does the South Tees’ team make this work in practice. The answer is “partnership in practice”. The team does not work in isolation. It is part of the port, and it is part of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board Tees Port Welfare Committee. It is time to introduce the rest of the community. Let’s join together PD Teesport, the Tyne-Tees Branch of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, and the Tees and Hartlepool Port Users’ Association. These three organisations underpin the commercial life of the river and they also underpin the Mission activity. For the past forty years, with the help of these organisations, a sum of money has been collected from each vessel, and each month, each of the four seafarers’ charities (including the German Seamen’s Mission) on the Tees receives an equal amount by way of port levy. The rate is variable depending on economic circumstances but each charity will receive at least £500 per annum, and in some years this has been as much as £12,000. This
Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | May 2016 | Issue 17
Feature The partnership snapshot would not be complete without it being captioned by some of the team itself – so here they are ... here is Mission volunteer Bronwyn Coulson, in verse!
Captain Mark Williams, Tees Bay Pilots, and volunteer driver for the Mission
is regular income and, in the case of South Tees, allows a degree of financial independence unparalleled elsewhere. Critically, the three organisations understand seafarers’ welfare because their members are involved in practical ways as bar staff and drivers, and the day-to-day management of the club. There are no paid employees at South Tees, everything is achieved by the gift of time, on a voluntary basis. So, partnership is linked to commercial activity. Is it linked to ecumenism? Yes. The Apostleship of the Sea chaplain takes the lead on welfare issues supported by the ship-visiting team, which is inter-denominational. One of the minibus drivers is a practising Muslim. The two German deacons work closely to sustain the needs of all German owned, managed and/ or crewed vessels and its management team includes members of other welfare organisations to ensure continuity of support. The Apostleship of the Sea supporters in the local hinterland provide invaluable assistance keeping the club bright and clean, helping maintain our high standards. Does partnership reflect the working lives of the team? Yes again. “Cellar management” is deputed to one of the river pilots who attends at the most odd hours of the day or night to clean beer lines! The harbourmaster leads the team and is amazingly good at diy jobs. Ships’ agents regularly drive, marine surveyors drive, the Bishop of Whitby is our Patron (and encouraged the Facebook page!), a former police officer keeps an eye on health and safety, a risk assessment “nut” ensures policies and procedures are in place to protect the team and the visitors and an accountant keeps a tight rein on finances, governance and transparency. This is just a snapshot of the entire gamut. Does partnership extend beyond the river. Again, yes. As part of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board Port Welfare Committee, there is regular and easy working with the local authorities, Port Health, Maritime and Coastguard Agency. There is an easy to read list of roles and responsibilities to enable swift contact with the appropriate person or agency. Partnership works. www.missiontoseafarers.org
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Twelve years have passed since I first arrived I’ve enjoyed every minute, that can’t be denied At first it was noisy with music and song With the “magic mike” we all sang along. Now times have changed, the phones have gone It’s laptops and ipads and iphones and some. I’ve been invited to Pakistan, I politely refused, “It’s quite safe” he said, umm, I mused. The Philippines was next I would love to go, But the travel and cost makes it a no. So I will safely stay in the mission itself And talk to the lads and wish them good health. I say “Hello” to the wives and children too By Facebook of course and then bill and coo Over pictures of babies they haven’t yet met. One thing is important, we must never forget. They deliver our goods from countries afar Ever sailing the seas not led by a star. The latest technology brings them here, But it’s not all plain sailing, it’s dangerous I fear. The goods are unloaded and sent near and far, Who knows, it may be that important new car. We must show our gratitude to the lovely young crews, Smile, talk and help them however we choose. When they are ready to sail, we say our farewells. Good Night and God Bless, Safe Journey we shout, Then a hug or a hand shake, that’s what it’s about, Tomorrow a new ship, a new crew, without doubt. And finally, Mark Williams, who sums it up eloquently. My name is Mark Williams (Captain MHR Williams, Tees Bay Pilots) and I currently volunteer for the Seaman’s Mission as a driver. I spent seven years at sea on large cargo vessels followed by four years on cruise ships. I experienced a vast difference of standards between these two vessel types, and of course ways of life on board ship. While I was away for months at a time, there was always one constant; the Mission. Each and every one I visited was a welcoming place for seafarers of all nationalities, background and vessel type. When I was visiting the Mission, I would be collected from the ship and taken to the Mission where I could contact home, purchase toiletries and generally relax and unwind away from shipboard duties. All the Missions around the world have one thing in common and that’s the kindness of the volunteers who give their free time so generously, and welcome seafarers so warmly. I am now based in Teesside and no longer away at sea. I felt it was very important to contribute, now that I am able, to something that I cherished so much for many years. To that end I now volunteer when possible as a minibus driver. It’s now my turn to pick up crews and take them to the Mission, or indeed shops and the like if they require anything. I find this to be extremely rewarding and feel a sense of ‘giving back’ now that I can. The sense of community and kinship among seafarers is strong, this is facilitated and enhanced by organisations such as the Mission and I am very proud to be part of it. Partnership in practice!
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Armed Guards ‘Not Adequately Protected’ As the Seaman Guard Ohio crew continue their fight to return home, Carly Fields asks why PCASP often ‘fall between the cracks’ and whether a centralised organisation might help.
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he case of the Seaman Guard Ohio crew and guards, held in India for over two years, contrary to international maritime and human rights law, underscores the risks that seafarers, whatever their role or rank, face while undertaking their day to day business. In October 2013, the vessel strayed into Indian waters while carrying what Indian police claimed to be illegal weapons, without permission. Despite providing all the weapons’ certification and the relevant paperwork proving that the arms were to provide maritime security to merchant vessels, the armed guards on the vessel were found guilty and jailed for five years along with the rest of the crew. Speaking to The Sea, Peter Cook, chief executive of the Security Association for the Maritime Industry, a global organisation representing companies working in the maritime security industry, said he was concerned about the welfare of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP). Because these armed guards are not recognised in any international labour Conventions, he says, they are not adequately protected when things go wrong – and so, often ‘fall between the cracks’ in the law, as it were. “Ideally”, Mr Cook went on, “PCASP should be incorporated into the Maritime Labour Convention as seafarers, but various competent authorities have deemed that they’re not, including the UK’s Maritime Coastguard Agency. I believe that is what should happen because then that would also bring them under the wing of the International Transport Workers’ Federation; they would then have a voice and we could look at contracts and all kinds of other things.” The Mission to Seafarers’ regional director for the Gulf Region and India, the Revd Paul Burt agreed: “PCASP can get a raw deal through not being recognised as seafarers. If they were recognised as such, they could benefit more straightforwardly from seafarer union representation and protection. “They could also benefit from a standardized contract which would make clear who is responsible for taking out various insurances for legal support and medical repatriation, among other things.” International bodies could also do more, says Mr Burt: “They could make representations to the government and coastguard/naval authorities of those countries whose coastlines border the patrol areas in order to get at least a tacit acceptance that such vessels, although armed, are perfectly entitled to free passage, without being accused of ‘anti national’ activities simply by being present in international waters adjacent to the countries in question.”
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Armed guards are not recognised in any international labour Conventions
Another suggestion is that PCASP should pay more careful attention to checking on the private maritime security companies they’re working for, as ultimately those companies will be the ones looking out for their welfare. Mr Cook champions the establishment of an association specifically for PCASP, in much the same way that SAMI represents the security companies. This could give them the protection that they deserve and go some way towards raising the profile of this important, but all-too-often overlooked element of the maritime security system. And, he added, a centralised organisation would also present a united front to services, such as insurers, ensuring that the cover in place is appropriate and competitively priced for PCASP. “One voice shouting makes no difference; a body made up of 800,000 people actually makes a difference and they have to understand that,” said Mr Cook. An organisation in this vein could work with the ITF, or one of the other unions such as Nautilus, to improve the welfare of PCASP. However, to date, there hasn’t been enough momentum to take this forward. Part of the reason for this is that it is still relatively early days as far as private maritime security companies are concerned. And while the model of using PCASP has been successful in the waters off Somalia and the wider Gulf of Aden, operations are necessarily different in the Gulf of Guinea and in the South China Sea. “With increasing numbers of ships and decreasing numbers of naval vessels, the use of private security companies to provide security on
Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | May 2016 | Issue 17
Feature
MV Seaman Guard Ohio crew awaiting trial in Chennai, India
“The uncertainty and the repeated disappointments at the lack of progress is taxing the resilience of the families” board ships is inevitably going to increase,” warned Mr Cook. “It’s an evolving situation and we have got to take it forward one step at a time in order to be able to achieve the end result.” While all of the above suggestions would serve to improve the lot of PCASP currently in service or considering a career as an armed maritime security guard, they are of limited use to the imprisoned Seaman Guard Ohio crew. As they and their families continue the fight to clear their names to allow them to return home, they have relied on the welfare support given by the Mission. Mr Burt is currently the only non-family member allowed to visit the Seaman Guard Ohio crew in prison, aside from their lawyer and the staff of the British Deputy High Commission in Chennai. Since the start of the men’s ordeal, the Mission has provided pastoral visits and advice and has co-ordinated efforts made on their behalf by lawyers and the ITF. “We are also supporting the families in the UK and maintaining a high profile of the case in the media,” added Mr Burt. “I have been
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interviewed three times by BBC local radio stations recently and we have also made emergency funds available to the men and their families.” The families of the armed guards have launched a campaign through The Mission to Seafarers to raise the vital money needed to fund a legal team and expenses. As of the end of March, the total donated on www.justgiving.com/freesgo6 was £33,809.46, just over a third of the £100,000 target. An appeal against the crew’s fiveyear sentences is scheduled for 1 June, 2016. The Revd Canon Ken Peters, The Mission to Seafarers’ director of justice and public affairs, said the delays in exonerating them have caused immense distress for the families. “The uncertainty and the repeated disappointments at the lack of progress is taxing the resilience of the families. This leads to a feeling that there is a punitive attitude among those seeking to uphold the charges. “The long term effect of not knowing why there is a determination on the part of the prosecution to relentlessly pursue the crew and guards, is to undermine confidence in the integrity of the process and question the motivation of those intent on reaching a final guilty verdict. I have immense respect for the families and the way in which they are baring the pain. They are suffering and for innocent people to be subjected to such treatment goes against all sense of natural justice.”
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Gardens of the Mission Mission gardens provide much-needed respite for seafarers, volunteers and staff. We ask a few volunteers what makes their gardens special.
Fremantle, Australia A Touch of Happiness: The Revd Dennis Claughton
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idden among the busy and bustling port city of Fremantle, one comes unexpectedly upon three permanent, colourful and well cared for gardens. The Flying Angel Club sits near the inner harbour, on the Swan River and a quick run around Fremantle reveals that the only other street gardens around the port city are temporary planter boxes which wheel-in, wheel-out to the footpath (a gallant initiative of the City of Fremantle) whereas our gardens provide a permanent oasis among the usual harsh city backdrop. Water restrictions in this hot, dry climate allow us to water only twice a week and for only two hours, so maintaining a lush garden is hard work. Nevertheless, our green-fingered chaplain and obliging volunteers keep the annuals, perennials, shrubs, palms and native trees alive and flourishing.
Native trees shown from the balcony with the river in the background
Bordering walkways, car parks and bus thoroughfares, the gardens and sprinkler systems are often walked on, trampled, driven over, stolen, vandalised and eaten, but, plants being living things, always bounce back. Proximity to the port means that occasional rabbits, lizards and rats find their way in – our focus on hospitality means we can welcome these occasional intruders with amusement. Recently on the veranda (where seafarers gather with much noise and chatter) a birds’ nest was discovered and seafarers and staff alike watched with wonder, observing three eggs hatch into three native banded wrens that one day flew away with the blessing of all at the Mission.
The garden in full bloom
The hatching of the birds, the siting of occasional wildlife and the beauty of the gardens, work to bring out the best in caring and protective attitudes in our seafarers.
Brisbane, Australia
Captain Dave Ellis, President of The Mission to Seafarers Brisbane
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his year will see the gardens revamped under the watchful eye of a landscape architect to ensure we have garden areas that are low maintenance and long lasting in the poor soil and harsh weather conditions at the port. The psychological impact of greenery on seafarers is well researched and the new garden areas will be of great benefit in improving their mental health. A further stage of garden rebuilding is to create a seafarers’ memorial – there is no such memorial in Brisbane, to honour all seafarers, merchant, naval and fishing, who have lost their lives at sea. This will establish a focal point between the broader Brisbane community and the Mission. We will also rebuild the old phone booth area into a sleeping space for seafarers. We often have seafarers dropped off after a long overnight flight while waiting to join their ship, and they will soon be able to enjoy a good sleep prior to joining the ship. This not only benefits the individual seafarer but reduces the human element risk to shipping from tired crew. 14
Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | May 2016 | Issue 17
Garden beds being constructed in Brisbane
Feature The Flying Angel Centre garden, Falmouth
A Queen Elizabeth Acer, Dogwood tree, Mahonia and Pitisporum make up the large shrubs/trees added to give shelter to the garden. The Queen Elizabeth Acer was planted to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen and was ceremonially planted by the mayor of Falmouth in November 2012. Most of the plants in the garden have been grown from seed in the greenhouse or are shrubs which have been cultivated over the 10-year existence of the centre.
“The Flying Angel Centre garden gives tribute to seafarers lost in both World Wars”
Seafarers enjoy the garden at The Flying Angel Centre, Falmouth
Penny Phillips, port chairman, Falmouth
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he Flying Angel Garden had humble beginnings with a few potted shrubs and a second hand picnic bench beside its one portacabin.
Over time, it became apparent to those running the centre that even the few plants on show were welcomed by crew and the benefits of having some greenery surrounding the centre were obvious. Graham Hall, Mission volunteer since 2004, set about making a wrap-around garden, so that all aspects of the industrial landscape surrounding The Flying Angel Centre would eventually be disguised and be replaced by colour and the various elements necessary to encourage wildlife into the garden. Today, good health promotion for seafarers is at the forefront of a big new push by The Nautical Institute sponsored by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation. We were pleased to spearhead the notion that a seafarers’ garden aids ‘emotional wellness’ and we have concentrated a lot of time and energy on developing areas where seafarers can sit and enjoy fresh air, the sights and sounds of a garden and the feeling of wellbeing this brings Bee and insect hotels are in place to encourage plenty of movement and a wormery, using the waste food daily from the dockyard offices, is a great natural bonus for liquid fertiliser for the garden. A pond was added to encourage further wildlife, with floating plants, marginals and plants to oxygenate the water. There is nothing as tranquil as the sound of running water, and we have added two water features; a sculpture designed and created by Graham Hall of bulrushes, the other in the form of a stream which empties into a small lagoon. Wildlife already using the garden include leaf cutter bees, solitary bees, various butterflies and insects, a hedgehog, a family of foxes, rabbits, swallows, linnet, finches, blackbirds and blue tits (and the occasional herring gull).
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The Flying Angel Centre Garden has won a wide array of accolades and awards – including helping the town of Falmouth win Britain in Bloom Champion of Champions in 2015. Graham has won a Local Hero Award through the RHS Its Your Neighbour Scheme and the garden has been group winner several times. In 2015 it won the Britain in Bloom Best in the south west category for a noncommercial garden and received the Bruford Cup. International crew are very interested in the heritage of Cornwall and as Graham Hall explained about the county’s tin mining history, he realised that erecting a small tin mine in the garden would be beneficial not just to illustrate Cornwall’s past, but would be a further element to hide the dockyard’s less-attractive woodpile. The garden completely wraps around the centre buildings (made up of the main centre, a chapel, games room and summerhouse). The walkway winds through the centre and there are many areas, like the cloisters, which houses climbing plants and wall baskets. Many of the workers at the dockyard engage with The Flying Angel Centre through the garden. Plants will be left on the doorstep or delivered in person. The many hundreds of visitors to the docks each day will see the centre as they pass, and many remark on how unusual, and welcome, it is to see such an area of peace and tranquility in a bustling, industrial scene. The Flying Angel Centre garden gives tribute to seafarers lost in both World Wars, a simple marble tablet in the Remembrance Garden honours the dead of World War 1, and a large life-size sculpture, entitled U-Boat Watch, is our tribute to the dead, lost and injured of World War II. The sculpture, designed and created by Graham Hall, depicts a seafarer on watch for German submarines. It is life-sized and the section of ship deck on which the sculpture stands is sturdy enough to encourage crew to jump on board and have their photographs taken standing alongside the seafarer holding his binoculars. There is no doubt that the garden also raises the spirits of all those who work inside the dockyard, and the support of workers and dockyard management is something which is encouraged and appreciated. Many donations to the centre specify that the funds must be spent on the garden area; such is the popularity and success of the garden locally. A local man undertook a birthday parachute jump and donated the funds he raised in sponsorship to The Flying Angel Centre garden. @FlyingAngelNews
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Take on a Challenge for The Mission to Seafarers! London Nightrider, 4-5 June 2016 Nightrider is a unique 100km or 60km moonlit cycle past over 50 of London’s most iconic landmarks. While London sleeps, some 2500 cyclists are set to raise more than £1million in one night for hundreds of charities. Full support, back-up and regular break stops are provided through the night and a well-earned breakfast and medal at the finish! It’s quick and easy to sign up for Nightrider. Pay a £39 registration fee then raise £175 minimum sponsorship for The Mission to Seafarers. For more details contact Ravina Patel on the details below or visit www.missiontoseafarers.org/Nightrider2016
Vietnam to Cambodia cycle, 2 November 2016 Prepare to be overwhelmed by Vietnam’s natural contrasting beauty, from the patchwork of bright green rice paddies to the rugged mountains and white sandy beaches, you can’t fail to be bewitched by its traditional charm! For those of you in search of the charity cycle challenge of a lifetime, Vietnam won’t fail to leave an indelible mark on you and will provide you with memories that will last forever. You can sign up for a Vietnam to Cambodia cycle through Discover Adventure. To find out more and request a brochure, contact Ravina Patel on the details below or visit www.missiontoseafarers.org/Viet2Cam Photo: Nhi Dang, Flickr
London to Paris cycle, 8 June, 27 July and 31 August 2016 Cycling from London to Paris is one of the great 5 day cycle experiences in Europe. Passing through picturesque Kent countryside, cyclists cross the Channel and continue through the small villages and medieval market towns of northern France. With long days in the saddle and some strenuous hill-climbs, the sight of the Eiffel Tower, the finishing point, will evoke a real sense of achievement. The last day in Paris allows the cyclists to explore the sights and soak up the romantic atmosphere of this majestic city! For more details contact Ravina Patel on the details below or visit www.missiontoseafarers.org/Lon2Paris
Photo: Moyan Brenn, Flickr
Further details Contact Ravina Patel on 020 7246 2915, or email her at Ravina.Patel@missiontoseafarers.org
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Flying Angel News | The Magazine of The Mission to Seafarers | May 2016 | Issue 17
Interview with
Canon Tremlett Canon Andrew Tremlett is rector of St Margaret’s Church, which stands beside Westminster Abbey. Ordained 26 years ago, he was installed as a Canon of Westminster in October 2010 and is Chairman of the Westminster Abbey Institute. How did you become interested in The Mission to Seafarers? I was born and grew up in Plymouth, and much of my working life has been beside the sea. I have worked in Torquay, Portsmouth, Worthing, Bristol and Rotterdam in Holland. Three years after I was ordained I got the opportunity to work in Rotterdam as a chaplain with The Mission to Seafarers. At the time, Rotterdam was the biggest port in Europe and it was an incredible experience. I vividly remember the stories from some of the crews that were being mistreated and undernourished. What else have you done in your career? I have been a vicar on a council estate outside Portsmouth, then I became a Bishop’s chaplain in Portsmouth. The Bishop moved to the House of Lords and I also became a parliamentary research assistant. After that I moved to Goring-by-Sea and was a vicar in a very large church. Then I became a Residentiary Canon in Bristol Cathedral, which houses the original Mission to Seafarers’ chapel. Bristol is where the Mission all started and so it felt absolutely right, like coming full circle. I was in charge of the buildings and ran some interesting development projects. I also spent a year as acting dean of the Cathedral, a very good experience and a role with a very high civic profile. I came to Westminster Abbey in 2010. I am responsible for the relationship between the Abbey, Parliament, Whitehall and the other faith communities, and as part of this I have established the Westminster Abbey Institute to connect with over 8,000 parliamentarians, civil servants and others working in institutions around Parliament Square, which represent in a microcosm the government across Britain. I am also a chairman of a housing association, The Field Land Foundation, established in 1841, which was the inspiration for Charles Dicken’s Christmas Carol. What kind of experience and skills do you bring to the Mission as a Trustee? I think my specific skill is to do with strategic decision making, something that I have had to use in my role with the Field Land Foundation and at Westminster Abbey. Both are mid-sized charities with turnovers of between £6–20 million. In addition, through my previous and current roles, I have built up a lot of experience in risk management, achieving financial stability and managing some complex staffing issues. What does being a Trustee mean to you? It’s about repaying a debt and a sense of commitment and connection to The Mission to Seafarers. I feel I owe the Mission an enormous amount. In a formative stage of my working life, the chaplaincy in Rotterdam was a huge opportunity for personal growth and the experience has stayed with me as a unique, special time. I want to make a difference because the Mission’s issues today aren’t unique, in common with so many other organisations the questions are about strategic guidance, finding the right direction, looking at the resources we have to get there and stepping back to identify our needs in the future. What makes the Mission as relevant today as it was in 1856? The Mission is definitely as relevant today as it was then. In the early days, the chaplains were helping seafarers with reading letters and writing home, and while these forms of communications may have changed, the simple pastoral needs and need for advocacy sadly hasn’t.
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Your lasting gift: shelter from the storm The Mission to Seafarers offers emergency assistance, practical support, and a friendly welcome to crews visiting over 200 ports in 50 countries. Legacy gifts are a vital part of our funding, and your generous contribution will make a real difference to those facing peril at sea or distress in our ports.
To find out more about our work, or about leaving a gift to The Mission to Seafarers in your will, contact Dominic Hasan by phone on 020 7246 2937, by email at Dom.Hasan@missiontoseafarers.org or by post, quoting ref: FAN16.