Past News articles about the Sailors’ Society 

Past stories and experiences about the Sailors’ Society and our work

Here you will read some of the more interesting stories about our work, our events and our work helping merchant seafarers in need.

Sea Sunday - 12th July 2009

Revd David Potterton, the Sailors’ Society Principal Chaplain joined the Aled Jones Show on BBC Radio 2, talking passionately about the Society’s work and he encouraged communities to become more involved in an awareness of merchant seafarers’ needs. Sea Sunday services can be held on any Sunday you choose.  Worship materials are available from chaplains@sailors-society.org

Dragon Boat Challenge

Our sponsors, competitors and supporters raised £50,000 at our bi-annual June Dragon Boat Challenge held at Dorney Lake, the Olympic rowing venue designated for 2012.

100 competitors in 14 teams took part.  London Offshore Consultants, 'the marine travel company', Rio Tinto, Thomas Miller, Baltic Exchange, Clarksons, Cargill London and Geneva, INTERTANKO, Inchcape Shipping Services, Gartner and Charles Taylor & Co, all entered at least one team. The event was sponsored by Rightship, INTERTANKO and Cargill and we are indebted to everyone's support..

The Clarksons' Team 'Sweet FFA' took the winner's trophy with a time of 61.49 seconds over 250 metres, narrowly beating London Offshore Consultants 'Choc-a-BLOC' team by just half a second in the final. Their consolation was winning the trophy for raising the most money for the day.

Deloitte and Sailors' Society Cycle Ride

Sponsors and kind-hearted cyclists helped raise over £25,000 by taking part in our first Deloitte and Sailors' Society Cycle.

Over 300 cyclists took to their wheels to raise funds for seafarers. The three circuits, for the range of abilities, sponsored by Deloitte, ABP and Blake Lapthorn Solicitors started and finished in Mayflower Park, Southampton where numerous side shows and attractions kept supporters entertained.

Local sailor Geoff Holt, who overcame his disabilities to sail solo round Great Britain, the Harlequins rugby star Peter Bracken, and the out-going Mayor of Southampton Councillor Brian Parnell were all on hand to cheer on the participants as they crossed the finish line and later to present the awards to the winners.

BP Shipping's 'Beyond Pedalling' team collected the award for the Highest Corporate Fundraising Team, raising an incredible £2,222. A huge ‘Thank you’ to everyone who contributed to making the day so successful and such fun.

Sailors’ Society ‘Woolly Hat Week’ campaign

Seafarers have to battle with the elements regularly, and the now famous woolly hat is welcomed as a gift to those who arrive as strangers in ports around the world.

The Sailors’ Society operates in over 100 ports in 30 countries, offering practical and spiritual support through its network of Port Chaplains. The woolly hat is a practical gift as well as helping seafarers realise that someone is thinking about them, and cares.

Woolly Hat Week 2010 takes place between every year around second week in February and the charity hopes that many companies and communities will join in supporting the campaign.

Sailors’ Society Ukrainian Port Chaplain Eduard Myrmyr knows that seafarers will be grateful to receive both the woolly hats and the gesture of support. He said: “The gift of a woolly hat after a long journey, so far away from friends and family, is very much appreciated. Many recipients are not only very touched by the generosity, but also by the human element of appreciation; seafarers have long been the ‘invisible workforce’, and hopefully Woolly Hat Week can bring some further understanding of the part they play in our lives, as well as much-needed hats for seafarers adjusting to the cold winter months!”

The Sailors’ Society is hoping that companies will encourage their staff to take part in Woolly Hat Week by wearing hats to work in return for a small donation. The money raised will help the charity provide assistance to seafarers, as well as going towards the transportation and distribution of woolly hats to seafarers ill-prepared for colder climates.

Sailors’ Society Events Fundraiser Vicky MacLeod explained: “Woolly Hat Week has been so successful in recent years, that we receive hats, knitted by kind volunteers from all over the world, throughout the year. We always welcome woolly hats, but also encourage donations to help towards transporting the knitted hats to the seafarers who need them most. This means sending them to places such as the Ukraine and South America.”

Vicky added: “We are extremely grateful to our community of knitters who continue to supply us with woolly hats. We also want to encourage involvement from others who might not be able to knit, but can still contribute and support our work. By wearing your woolly hat to work, and being sponsored or donating, we hope to raise awareness of the difficulties seafarers face and assist them with the help they require.”