Council to support Merchant Navy Day
Telford & Wrekin Council is to fly the Red Ensign from its offices at Addenbrooke House on Thursday 3 September to mark Merchant Navy Day.
This is to raise awareness of the UK’s ongoing dependence on Merchant Navy seafarers.
The Red Ensign will be hoisted on the roof of Addenbrooke House at 10am during a short ceremony attended by council leader Kuldip Sahota, borough mayor Councillor Leon Murray, managing director Richard Partington and deputy Lord Lieutenant Peter Holt.
Telford & Wrekin Council is using the event to support a nationwide call from the Seafarers UK charity and the Merchant Navy Association for the UK for the Merchant Navy’s official flag to be flown on public buildings.
The charity’s president, HRH the Earl Of Wessex, said: “On this Merchant Navy Day, I am delighted that Telford & Wrekin Council is supporting this campaign.
“It is aimed at remembering the sacrifices, saluting the courage and supporting the future of the often unsung personnel of our Merchant Navy.”
Borough mayor Councillor Leon Murray said: “We are very proud to support Merchant Navy Day by flying the Red Ensign at Addenbrooke House.
“In times of conflict such as the two World Wars, the UK would have been starved of food and denied other essential supplies but for merchant ships.
“The Merchant Navy also played a huge role in other major national operations, including the recovery of the Falkland Islands in 1982.
“More than 90 per cent of our imports are carried by ship and we depend on the Merchant Navy for 75 per cent of our exports. So I am delighted that we are able to recognise their contribution to our society.”
Some of the UK’s ports are supporting the campaign by encouraging visiting ships to sound their horns at 10am on 3 September.
