Public invited to Merchant Navy Day Flag Raising and Service

The public are invited to a flag raising ceremony and short service for Merchant Navy Day on Friday 3rd September at 10.50am. The service will take place at the Merchant Navy Memorial adjacent to the Pier Bandstand on Weymouth Seafront.

Weymouth Town Council will support the local merchant navy for this important annual event to raise awareness of the UK’s ongoing dependence on Merchant Navy seafarers.

Cllr Colin Huckle, Weymouth Town Council Mayor, will be carrying out a short reading and will be raising the flag to say thank you to our seafarers. The Mayor will be joined by local councillors and Merchant Navy veterans, along with their family and friends.

Cllr Huckle said: “It’s an honour to have the opportunity to raise the Red Ensign on Merchant Navy Day to show the Town Council’s appreciation for all the hard work the Merchant Navy does for the United Kingdom.”

Capt. Paul Compton MNM, Chairman of local Merchant Navy Branch, said:

“We are delighted to raise the Red Ensign for Merchant Navy Day at our memorial on Weymouth Seafront, dedicated to those members of the merchant and fishing fleet that lost their lives at sea while supporting the country”.

Weymouth Town Council is supporting a nationwide call from the Seafarers UK charity and the Merchant Navy Association for the UK Merchant Navy’s official flag to be flown on public buildings and landmark flagstaffs. For more information, visit www.merchantnavyfund.org/merchant-navy-day.