One Hundred and Eighty!
National maritime charity seeks personal contributions from the seafaring community to celebrate its 180th anniversary.
The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, is calling on the public and seafaring community to submit their personal memories, stories and historical recollections, either through images, poems or prose, that best represent what the maritime and seafaring community means to them.
Entitled Shipwrecked One Eighty, the Society will create a ‘catalogue’ of 180 submissions to mark its anniversary, celebrating the history of the UK’s maritime community since the charity was formed in 1839.
Entrants can submit their personal contributions, whether a memory, image, story, poem or place by visiting the Society’s website or by using the hashtag #Shipwrecked180 on social media.
Chief Executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, Captain Justin Osmond, said: “As the Society reaches the auspicious landmark of 180-years-service, we’re celebrating by commemorating the people, places and stories that have contributed to the merchant maritime and fishing communities we’ve supported throughout our history.
“In this respect, we’re doing a 180-degree turn back to reflect on the past; to remember and embrace the people, places and indomitable character that have made the maritime community what it is today.
“We want to hear from people about the things that reflect and have helped shape the maritime community over the past 180 years, whether they be childhood memories, family members who have worked at sea, inspirational pieces of literature or the places that mean the most to them.”
The winning entrants will receive a commemorative certificate and selection of Shipwrecked Mariners merchandise, while all contributors will enjoy the satisfaction of encapsulating their memories along with helping raise the profile of a charity that continues its vital work supporting those from what is a mostly forgotten and ignored sector of society: our fishermen, merchant mariners and their families who are suffering hardship. In many cases the Shipwrecked mariners’ Society is their only source of help in times of distress.
To find out more and to submit contributions, please visit https://shipwreckedmariners.org.uk/shipwrecked-one-eighty/.