Hi! To All, Please find here a selection of photos taken by Phil Medgett of the "Folkestone Herald" newspaper of the 2016 "Samuel Plimsoll Day" service held on Saturday, February 13th; at St. Martin's Church, Cheriton, near Folkestone. Again it was well attended with representatives from the maritime industry including three Standards, these being the "Independent Vindicatrix of East Kent", the "Prince of Wales Sea Training School" and the Royal Marine Association and on behalf of Nicolette Jones, I thank them for attending. Following a short introduction and welcome by the Vicar many went to Plimsoll's grave for the wreath laying by his descendants and others before we returned to the church for a talk by a retired Captain (M.N.) maritime historian and author of many maritime books, Richard Woodham. Following that we all adjourned to the church hall for refreshments. Regards, Phil Hughes
Dear Sir, I have been contacted by Captain John Bean regarding my report to my members and overseas seafarers on the commemoration service to Samuel Plimsoll at St. Martin's Church, Cheriton near Folkestone in Kent where he and his wife are buried. He said you had requested my permission to include it in your newsletter and I willingly give my permission as Samuel Plimsoll was the hero to all seafarers especially merchant seafarers and he rarely gets any credit in modern days.
This commemoration service has been going for 7 years now and our ratings association, the Independent Vindicatrix of East Kent has attended all but one alongside the Prince of Wales Sea Training School where we have paraded our Standards. It was started by Nicolette Jones, the author and expert on Plimsoll and was on the nearest day to Plimsoll's birthday in February but this year, following a new committee it was decided to change the date to near his death in June. The day starts with a brief service before all go to the grave for wreath laying before returning to the church. Here there is a guest speaker on maritime matters where usually this results in a short questions and answers session ending with the "Sailor's Hymn" and a song dedicated to Samuel Plimsoll. At the close all move to the community hall behind the church for "tea & tabnabs". It is hoped that with publicity more will attend in future. We have usually been blessed by the attendance of Plimsoll's great-great-grand-daughter and great grand-daughter at this event who lay wreaths but this year they were unable to attend.
With reference to our ratings training ship "Vindicatrix" she was a square-rigged sailing ship built for Cape Horn trade and was originally called "Arranmore" for a Scottish Company. During her time she encountered many major problems which are too many to go into here but she finally ended up in the hands of a German company who at the outbreak of WW1 was commissioned into the Imperial German Navy as a depot / supply ship. We re-took her as a war prize and she was berthed in London's West India Docks as we had no use for her until around 1926 there was a dire need for more merchant seamen so she came under the banner of the National Sea Training Association and re-named "Vindicatrix" . During WW2 she was moored at Sharpness in Gloucestershire as it was deemed a safe haven to train merchant seamen for the deck and catering departments.
The Prince of Wales Sea Training School started in Norfolk I believe under the "Sailor's Society" before it moved to London and finally to Dover in Kent. A plaque was unveiled on the lighthouse at the end of the Prince of Wales Pier many years ago now when the Standard was returned from Australia where it was found to be paraded at the unveiling. Our two associations have worked together ever since and I'd like to think we compliment each other at events.
Many thanks and I'll attach two more photos of a couple of years ago in case you may wish to use them. One shows Plimsoll's descendents laying their wreaths. Regards, Phil Hughes, (Secretary), Independent Vindicatrix of East Kent Association.
Thanks for your report on the Plimsoll memorial service. I forwarded it to my MN contacts and included sending it to our monthly "Union"(Nautilus) magazine, "The Telegraph". As you can see I have had a reply from Andrew Linington. He would like to contact you with a view to publishing your report in the "Telegraph". Maybe it would be easiest if you contacted him directly considering there must be a time limit to get your item into the next "Telegraph".
Best wishes
John (MOST)
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On Friday, 8 June 2018, 9:17, Andrew Linington wrote:
Dear John
Many thanks for sending us the report of the Plimsoll memorial service.
I would like to carry this in the next telegraph, as it is a fascinating story and I hope that it might generate interest for people who could attend in future.
I would also like to use one of the photos, but wondered if you have them in slightly better quality (larger file size) for good print reproduction, or if you could put us in touch with Phil Hughes?
Hi all, I can now give you a brief report on Saturday, June 2nd; 2018 for Samuel Plimsoll Day held at St. Martin's Church in Cheriton near to Folkestone. This commemoration is normally been held in February close to his birthday but this year, following a new committee being formed, it was decided to move it to June close to the day of his death. As many of you will know, although Plimsoll was born in Bristol he lived for a time in Folkestone, Kent where he and his wife died and are buried in this church yard. Many streets in the town are named after him as are many items of clothing & footwear, namely the Plimsoll shoes.
June 3rd; 1898 was the date of his death and this commemoration was started by the author and expert on all things Plimsoll, Nicolette Jones and has been going on for the past 7 years. The attendance was smaller this year than previous years but that could be down to school holidays and other events over the week-end. The day started with the two Standard Bearers representing the Independent Vindicatrix of East Kent Assoc;and the Prince of Wales Sea Training School Assoc; positioned in the aisle for a brief service before we moved to the grave for the wreath laying. Wreaths were laid by the Chair of Folkestone & Hythe District Council, the Mayor of Hawkinge and the Deputy Mayor of Folkestone watched by the attendees around the grave. All then returned to the church for an interesting talk by Ms; Rose George, an investigative Journalist and author on maritime matters followed by a short questions and answers session. We then moved to the church hall for "tea & tabnabs" before dispersing.
I attach two photos from the day, one of the two Standard Bearers and one of the wreath laying which sadly does not show all of the attendees as they were standing away from the damp grass. Regards, Phil.
