History
It's not just the wrecked ship which is a disaster, but the wrecked lives...
On Sunday 28th October 1838 twelve fishing vessels with a total of twenty six men onboard left Clovelly harbour for the fishing grounds. Only one vessel and its crew ever returned after a ferocious storm. Hearing of this, Mr Charles Gee Jones, a former Bristol pilot and landlord of the Pulteney Arms in Bath, suggested to Mr John Rye, a retired “medical man” that something should be done to assist the widows, orphans and parents of fishermen and mariners who lost their lives at sea. As a direct result The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’ Royal Benevolent Society, better known as the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society was founded in 1839 with the object of:
“giving relief and assistance to the widows and orphans of fishermen; and of mariners, members of the Society, who lose their lives by storms and shipwreck on any part of the coasts of the United Kingdom, while engaged in their lawful occupations; and also to render necessary assistance to such mariners, soldiers, or other poor persons as suffer shipwreck upon the said coasts.”
Her Majesty Queen Victoria was our first Patron and ever since the Society has been honoured by Royal Patronage. In 1850 the Society was incorporated by Act of Parliament, on which the Rules and Regulations are based. This was a farsighted document that in addition to its principal original purpose, gave the Society the right to establish Asylums, a system of lifeboats, to build boats to demonstrate how much safer decked fishing boats could be, and
“… - also any other objects, designs, or purposes of a benevolent character, for the benefit and welfare of all and every or any of the classes of men for whose benefit the said Society was originally established or those dependant on them”.
Shipwrecks still occur - mainly single-manned fishing vessels - and we are called upon to help but our main activity today is to provide financial help to retired or incapacitated fishermen and mariners and their dependants who are in need. It is one of the largest maritime charities in the UK.
The Society's first President, Admiral Sir George Cockburn, had the distinction of occupying Washington and burning the Capitol and the White House in 1814 during our brief war with the United States.
The Society's distinctive flag was introduced in 1844. A distinguishing number was placed in the centre of the cross to identify the vessel to which it was assigned. Arrangements were made through private telegraph stations and then the coastguard to report the numbers of the flags displayed by vessels passing their stations and these in turn were reported in the "Shipping & Mercantile Gazette". This was later extended when homeward bound vessels would report en route sightings upon arrival at a UK port. Some vessels also bore the Society's flag and number painted on a board to provide a more permanent means of identification. This proved its worth when, in 1851, the "William", of Kirkaldy, foundered off Ballywater, Co.Down. The board was the only item of the vessel recovered, to prove her identity, and probably enabled the Society to assist dependants of the lost crew.
From 1851 the Society operated lifeboats at Lytham, Rhyl, Portmadoc, Tenby, Llanelly, Teignmouth, Hornsea and Newhaven but it was subsequently agreed that it would be wiser if one organization concentrated on rescuing lives at sea while the other helped the survivors or their bereaved families, so in 1854 the Society transferred its lifeboats to the RNLI.
The Society's History - Key Dates - October 1838
On Sunday 28 October 1838, twelve fishing vessels with a total of twenty six men onboard left Clovelly harbour for the fishing grounds. Only one vessel and its crew ever returned after a ferocious storm. Hearing of this, Mr Charles Gee Jones, a former Bristol pilot and landlord of the Pulteney Arms in Bath, suggested to Mr John Rye, a retired 'medical man', that something should be done to assist the widows, orphans and parents of the fishermen and mariners who lost their lives at sea. As a direct result the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society was established, incorporated by Act.
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October 1838
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· On Sunday 28 October 1838, twelve fishing vessels with a total of twenty six men onboard left Clovelly harbour for the fishing grounds. Only one vessel and its crew ever returned after a ferocious storm. Hearing of this, Mr Charles Gee Jones, a former Bristol pilot and landlord of the Pulteney Arms in Bath, suggested to Mr John Rye, a retired 'medical man', that something should be done to assist the widows, orphans and parents of the fishermen and mariners who lost their lives at sea. As a direct result the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society was established, incorporated by Act.
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1839
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· First Public Meeting 21st February 1839
· Established at 26 Bucklesbury, London
· Patron - Queen Victoria
· President - Admiral The Rt.Hon. Sir George Cockburn GCB
· Sir Robert Peel Bart, was a founding Vice President.
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1844
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· Flag instituted
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1845-1846
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· 600-700 Honorary Agents
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1849
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· Society Offices move to Hibernia Chambers, London Bridge
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1850
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· Incorporated by Act of Parliament
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1850-1854
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· Eight Lifeboats operated by the Society - Lytham, Rhyl, Tenby, Porthmadoc, Llanelly, Teignmouth, Hornsea, and Newhaven
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1851
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· 2,380 vessels displaying the Society's Flag
· Society's medals for saving life at sea instituted
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1854
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· Withdrew from the provision of Lifeboats, which were given to RNLI
· The Rt Hon Sir James Graham, First Lord of the Admiralty, becomes President
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1855
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· John Rye - founder, died
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1855
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· RNLI given £375 to assist in their work
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1858
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· His Grace The Duke of Marlborough becomes President
· Second Travelling Agent appointed
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1862-1863
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· Decision taken for the Society to be represented by Honorary Agents in the Colonies
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1863
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· Fishmongers' donated £100. The Society's Awards Ceremony and AGM have traditionally been held at Fishmongers' Hall
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1865
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· The Belvedere Institution for Aged and Worn-out Merchant Seamen founded, subsequently re-named, "The Royal Alfred Aged Merchant Seamen's Institution” (today the Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society)
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1867
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· Royal Alfred Aged Merchant Seamen's Institution established through the actions of the Society at Belvedere-on-Thames
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1871
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· Bridlington storms
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1880
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· 480 vessels lost off British coast
· The Society has over 1,000 Honorary Agents
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1880
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· Emile Robin Award instituted with £666 in stocks. Similar awards established by Monsieur Emile Robin in France, Italy and Holland
· Scheme for relieving and repatriating distressed colonial seamen instituted through the Government
· Particularly severe gales leading to considerable loss of life
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1881
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· Special collection for Shetland Fishermen - exceptionally disastrous gales. Fund raised £776
· Eyemouth tragedy
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1882
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· Terrific gales Oct, Nov, Dec. Particularly affected fishing fleets of Hull, Grimsby and other contiguous fishing stations
· 945 British-owned vessels lost, 445 of these off the cost of the UK
· Gift of 100 Aneroid Barometers manufactured by Dollond. Also added to by the Worshipful Company of Salters and others - to be presented as rewards or given on loan to Fishermen and Fishing Stations
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1883
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· Admiral His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh becomes President
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1895
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· Central Office moved to 26 Suffolk Street, London
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1897
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· 500,365 people assisted since the Society was founded
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1901
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· The Rt Hon The Earl of Cadogan becomes President
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1912
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· Publicly designated as the most disastrous year ever known at Lloyds - no less than 228 ships (of which 82 were British) being totally lost, and 36 (23 British) having been posted as "missing"
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1914-1918
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· Honorary Agents support crews from ships sunk by enemy action and the dependants of those killed. £135,579 was expended on war relief
· Mine-Sweepers Fund established
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1915
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· Monsieur Emile Robin (a Society Vice-President) died 2 December (a French subject connected with England by family ties)
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1916
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· The Rt Hon Lord Leith of Fyvie becomes President
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1920
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· Central Office moves to Carlton House, Regent Street
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1925
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· Total numbers relieved in-year 6,920 - 2,688 Fishermen and Mariners; 2,797 widows; 1,296 orphans; 139 aged parents
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1926
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· His Grace the Duke of Montrose becomes President
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1931
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· Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes elected President
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1932
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· Admiral of the Fleet Lord Keyes becomes President
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1938
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· Assistance provided in-year to 6,329 people, including 1,946 fishermen and mariners, 3,230 widows, 1003 orphans and 150 aged parents
· Total assisted since the Society's foundation over 895,000
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1939-45
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· The Society supports the crews of ships sunk by enemy action and the dependants of those killed in the service of their country. [Awaiting additional figures from client, due 17.05]
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1946
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· The Rt Hon Earl of Stanhope becomes President
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1950
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· About 700 Honorary Agents
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1951
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· Large Collecting Mines (Mk 17) installed around the coast of the British Isles
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1952
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· Patron - Queen Elizabeth II
· Society aided crews of 45 vessels with 501 survivors - Total number assisted 3,714 (1,174 Merchant Seamen and Fishermen, 233 wives, 41 children, 1,863 widows, 371 orphans and 32 parents)
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1953
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· Model Mine collecting boxes used for the first time
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1957
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· The Rt Hon The Earl of Granville becomes President
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1959
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· Started trading in Christmas Cards for first time
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1966
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· The Rt Hon The Earl of Lindsay becomes President
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1971
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· Central Office moved to Chichester from 16 Wilfred Street London
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1977
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· Major General His Grace The Duke of Norfolk becomes President
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1978
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· Membership scheme ceased
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1984
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· Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Lewin becomes President
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1996
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· Took on the administration of grants to Royal Alfred Seafarers beneficiaries
· Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal becomes President
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2001
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· President - Admiral of The Fleet Sir Julian Oswald GCB
· Patron - HRH The Princess Royal
· Website established on the internet
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2002
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· The Society takes on the administration of the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund
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2004
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· Over 700 applications for assistance
· Nearly 3,000 grants made to ex fishermen and merchant seamen
· 300 Honorary Agents
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2005
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· HRH The Princess Royal attends Awards Ceremony and AGM
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2006
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· Our President, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Julian Oswald GCB retired
· Admiral Sir Peter Abbott GBE, KCB becomes the Society's 16th President
· The Royal Seamen's Pension Fund merges with the Society
· The Cornwall Seamen's Benevolent Trust merges with the Society
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2007
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· HRH The Princess Royal, our Patron, visits Central Office in Chichester
· The Hull Fishermen's Trust Fund merges with the Society
· The Society becomes the sole trustee of the Fleetwood Fishing Industry Benevolent Fund
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