News

On Tuesday 16 November, in front of a large gathering of 200 invited guests, Service units, veterans and onlookers, The Memorial was Dedicated and Unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal.

This followed a Service at South Leith Parish Church and Parade to The Shore, led by George Watson's Pipe Band.

In her speech of Dedication Her Royal Highness spoke of the sacrifice of seamen during conflict and of the dangers faced by all those whose work continues to expose them to the hazards of life at sea and of the timely erection of a monument. Later, the sculptor, Jill Watson and many of the guests were presented to the Princess Royal in Malmaison Hotel.

In the photograph on the left: The HRH the Princess Royal, The Rt Hon George Grubb Lord Lieutenant and Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Chairman of MNMT(Scotland) Mr W R E Thomson.

The Annual Scottish Seafarer's Service took place at South Leith Parish Church (The Mariner's Church) five days later on Sunday 21st November attended by a large congregation including the Lord Provost and was followed by a Wreath Laying Ceremony at The Memorial. (see picture on the left of Capt Magnus Polson, Master of Trinity House, Leith)

There are many more photos on The Guardian website.

With the unveiling of the Memorial on the 16th of November rapidly approaching this News Section will provide updates on the project both before and after the event.

The Trust would like to convey their deep gratitude to all donors, large and small, for their support, financial and moral, since its conception.

The efforts of many people are about to be realised in stone and bronze with the column already in place on The Shore, Leith in front of what was previously The Seamen's Home, now the Malmaison Hotel

Through our contacts with Jim McRae of the Mission to Seafarers and the Rev Ian Gilmour of South Leith Parish Church we were recently able to publicise the Trust at a display at Ocean Terminal, Leith. The display was organised by Leith Churches Together and the three seafaring welfare organisations, Mission to Seafarers, Sailors' Society and Apostleship of the Sea.

There will be a Service of Dedication at South Leith Parish Church prior to the Unveiling but a further service, the Annual Scottish Service for Seafarers open to the public, will take place on 21st November at 11am followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Memorial at 1pm.

Read A fight to remember published in the Glasgow Herald (17th September 2010).

Read The Forgotten Heroes; an excellent article on the memorial by Jackie Macadam, published in this month's Life and Work, the magazine of the Church of Scotland.

Visit the website of the sculptor Jill Watson