Huntingdon Sea Sunday Service, 13 July 2014
On Sunday 13 July, shipmates form Huntingdon & District Branch attended the annual Sea Sunday Service at the War Memorial.
‘On 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 2014, to continue our vital work for those in need.’1

Shipmates Bill Small, Karl Webb, Pete Aston, and Graham & Becky Murray, represented the Branch.


The event in Huntingdon was organised by Colonel Derek Bristow, Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire (although this was in his role as CEO Federation of Merchant Mariners, and Chair of Cambs MNA), VIPs included the Chairman of HDC, Cllr Alan Mackender and the Mayor of Huntingdon, Cllr Bill Hensley, as well as former seafarers and their families.

The ceremony is usually an informal affair, started off with an introduction and welcome by Derek Bristow.

The next part of the service was to recognise the service of our veterans of the Second World War, one was presented a Merchant Navy ‘red duster’ veterans badge (based on the badge awarded to former military personnel).

The ceremony continued with prayers, a minutes silence, and the laying of wreaths.

Although only a short, informal, service, it is important to remember seafarers throughout the world, and of the dangers they face in both war and peace.
On completion of the service, all guests were invited into the Town Hall for refreshments and to ‘spin a few dits’ of the time we have spent at sea (or in the air in some cases).
- Mission to Seafarers Official Website, Available from http://www.seasunday.org/about-sea-sunday [↩]