We meet alternate Wednesdays at the Community Café and thoroughly enjoy our lunchtime get togethers. Although our numbers are small we continue to support Sir Gabriel Woods Mariners Home, Mission to Seafarers, the Sailors Society, Seafarers UK ,The Sailors Children Society and the Apostleship of the Sea. The branch also has a representative on both the Central and West of Scotland, and the North East Ports Welfare Committees.
In September, we attended the Merchant Navy Day service in George Square and laid a wreath at the War Memorial. Later that month we took part in the PWC awareness event onboard the Tall Ship and from that were invited to participate in the Clydebuilt Festival both these events were successful in helping to raise awareness of the Merchant Navy and the work of the Port Welfare Committees.
November saw us attend the Scottish Annual Seafarers Service which is organised by the Sailors’ Society and held in South Leith Parish Church. After the service and following a buffet lunch there was a short wreath laying service down at the Merchant Navy Memorial on Leith Shore.
We continue with our support for Sir Gabriel Woods Mariners Home by donating Christmas gifts and we also contribute to Christmas parcels which are handed out to visiting seafarers via the port chaplains.
The cadet “Bon Voyage ” events go from strength to strength and we continue to host them although they are now funded by the Nautical College. We have so much support from various individuals, maritime charities and welfare groups who come along to share their knowledge and experience of life at sea.
Glasgow Branch, which was the first branch in Scotland, started in February 1944. The founder chairman was a Mrs. McKinlay who along with Mrs J.S. Hughes and Mrs McLean established the Glasgow Branch.
In its’ heyday Glasgow Branch had around a 100 members and up until the late1990’s had a steady membership of 60 odd. Now we are fewer in number but our enthusiasm is just as strong and we enjoy our friendships very much. Glasgow Branch is very proud to have played hostess at the 2006 Triennial Meeting and over the years has had members serve, in various capacities, on the National Executive Committee.
Our members partners have worked for various shipping companies including Maersk, Clan Line, P&O, Denholms, Union Castle, Shell, C.S.M. Nedlloyd and the Scottish Fisheries Protection. Others have left the sea and work as Lecturers, Surveyors and Harbour Masters.
Glasgow Chairman’s Badge
Glasgow Chairman’s Badge which was made in 1956 and presented to the branch by Mrs. J.S. Hughes, a founder-member, is in the form of a Luckenbooth brooch. It incorporates the general badge in its design with the initials “W.A.” on a background half red, half green (to represent the port and starboard lights on a ship) and surrounded by a lifebuoy. The Queen Mary’s crown which surmounts the heart is very much like the crown which also appears on the Merchant Navy’s badge; and this is highly appropriate, since the membership of the Watch Ashore was originally made up of the wives, mothers, daughters and sisters of Merchant Navy Officers.
Officers of the Glasgow branch
Chairman: Mrs Ina
Bruce
Meeting Secretary: Mrs Ina Bruce
Treasurer: Mrs Margaret Gray
Glasgow Meetings
We meet on alternate Wednesday afternoons, 12–3pm, in the Community Cafe at New Gorbals Parish Church, 1 Errol Gardens, Glasgow G5 0RA.
Membership
£2.00 per meeting.
£10.00 Branch membership.
£15.00 Annual National Membership.
Glasgow Events
3rd September – Merchant Navy Day (George Square 10.45am)
October – Seafarers Service Glasgow Cathedral 10.45am
November – Sailors Society Annual Scottish Seafarers Service in Leith