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Flag hoisting to say thank you seafarers on Merchant Navy Day
Published: 28/08/2015
At 10am on Merchant Navy Day, 3 September, Flintshire County Council will fly
the Red Ensign at County Hall Mold to raise awareness of the UK’s ongoing
dependence on Merchant Navy seafarers
Joined by Deputy Lieutenant David Catherall, the Chairman of the Council,
Councillor Ray Hughes, will lead a short ceremony before raising the flag.
Flintshire County Council is supporting a nationwide call from the Seafarers UK
charity and the Merchant Navy Association for the UK Merchant Navy’s official
flag to be flown on public buildings and landmark flagstaffs.
The charity’s president, HRH The Earl of Wessex, has 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.’
Councillor Ray Hughes, Chairman of the Council said:
I am proud that Flintshire County Council is joining other public
organisations across Wales and the UK in recognising the valuable work of the
Merchant Navy and its contribution to the well-being of the Nation.
As an ‘island nation’ the UK relies on Merchant Navy seafarers for 95% of our
imports, including half the food we eat. The UK has the largest ports industry
in Europe. 75% of our exports (by volume) are shipped from UK ports, some of
which are supporting the campaign by encouraging visiting ships to sound their
horns at 10am on 3 September.
www.merchantnavyfund.org/merchant-navy-day
Notes for Editors
You are welcome to send a photographer to the main entrance County Hall Mold
for 9.45am on Thursday 3rd September 2015.
National Campaign PR Contact
Nick Harvey, Campaigns Manager, Seafarers UK, phone 020 7932 5969, mobile 07910
593588, email nick.harvey@seafarers-uk.org
Notes for Editors
More than 400 local authorities throughout the UK have been invited by
Seafarers UK and the Merchant Navy Association to participate in ‘Fly the Red
Ensign for Merchant Navy Day’.
The ‘Fly the Red Ensign for Merchant Navy Day’ Pageantmaster is Bruno Peek LVO
OBE OPR, phone 07737 262913, email pageantmaster@mac.com
Merchant Navy Day has been commemorated since 2000 on 3 September, the
anniversary of the sinking of the SS Athenia, the first British merchant vessel
lost during World War 2.
Seafarers UK is a leading grant-making charity that helps people in the
maritime community, by providing vital funding to support seafarers in need and
their families. Donations to the charity’s Merchant Navy Fund can be made at
www.merchantnavyfund.org