Page 4 - Town & Around - October 2019

4 Town & Around October 2019 Tel: 01485 540620 email: editor@townandaround.net
Red Ensign raised for Merchant Navy Day

unstanton Town Council responded to
a nationwide call from the Seafarers
HUK Charity and the Merchant Navy
Association for the UK Merchant Navy’s
official flag to be raised on Merchant Navy Day
on 3rd September to raise awareness of the
country’s ongoing dependence on Merchant
Navy seafarers.
Resplendent in his uniform, at 10am Retired
Merchant Master David Kent raised the flag at
Hunstanton’s War Memorial in the Esplanade
Gardens and the Mayor Cllr Amanda Bosworth
said: “We are gathered here this morning to Fly
the Red Ensign as a mark of respect for the
personnel of our Merchant Navy. Since 2000,
Merchant Navy Day has honoured the brave
men and women who kept our ‘Island Nation’
afloat during both World Wars and celebrates
our dependence on modern day merchant
seafarers.
HRH The Earl of Wessex has sent the
following message:
“On this Merchant Navy Day, I very much At the War Memorial in the Esplanade Gardens for the raising of the
hope you will support this campaign by Red Ensign on Merchant Navy Day.
Seafarers UK to remember the sacrifices, salute and women who serve or have served in the
the courage and support the future of the often Merchant Navy, some of whom we are
unsung personnel of our Merchant Navy. Too honoured to have with us here today.”
often they are the forgotten or invisible service. The Royal Navy, the Royal British Legion
By raising the Red Ensign you will ensure that and the RNLI were represented at the raising of
at least on this day they are remembered. Your the Red Ensign alongside residents, councillors
act will mean so much to their families and to and Town Council Officers. John Houston, who
the retired, but most especially to those at sea.” was also served in the Merchant Navy in the
The Mayor continued: “Before we raise the
flag, I would like to give a special mention to 1960’s laid a wreath in memory of absent friends
at the War Memorial.
Captain Charles Fryatt, Master of the Great Rev James Monro said prayers for those who Rock of their salvation.”
Eastern Railway Steamship ‘Brussels’, who was have served and continue to serve in the Over coffee and biscuits at the Town Hall, Mr
wrongly executed as a spy in Bruges on 27 July Merchant Fleet concluding with the words: Kent explained the significance of his uniform
1916. A seat dedicated to Captain Fryatt and the “Protect in your everlasting arms O Lord, all which had a diamond and four rings on the
Mercantile Marine can be found in the memorial those who go down to the sea in ships; and as sleeve. The diamond denotes the position of
gardens by the ruins of the Chapel of St they see your great and mighty wonders in the Certificated Officer and the four rings are for the
Edmund. deep, so give them grace to put their trust in you, Master (Captain) of the vessel.
We offer our humble thanks to all those men
who alone are the Anchor of their souls and the
Hunstanton and District Food Bank

have just been preparing our annual report for the Charity Commission, and realise that it
is a while since I have given readers an update on our work and our thanks for the continuing
Idonations. We are also pleased to receive and distribute cat and dog food, as people are
prepared to go with out rather than let their pets suffer.

As you can see from these statistics set out for year on year, the need for help continues to
increase, and the advent of Universal Credit is increasingly cited as the cause of need. However
your donations are thankfully keeping pace, for which our clients are very grateful. Thank you
all so much.
You will find our donation points at Sainsburys, Nationwide and Barclays Bank in
Hunstanton, as well as in various local churches.
James Monro, Hunstanton and District Foodbank