South Holland to fly flag for Merchant Navy

A Red Ensign will fly above South Holland District Council’s offices as part of national Merchant Navy Day.
The event, on Thursday, September 3, is being held to raise awareness of the UK’s ongoing dependence on Merchant Navy seafarers.
The flag raising ceremony will take place at 10am outside the council’s offices in Priory Road, and members of the public are welcome to attend.
Coun Francis Biggadike, council chairman, said: “We are 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.
“It will be a very poignant ceremony and we hope to see many people attend.”
The charity’s president, HRH The Earl of Wessex, has endorsed the campaign, saying: “On this Merchant Navy Day, I very much hope you will support this campaign to remember the sacrifices, salute the courage and support the future of the often unsung personnel of our Merchant Navy.”
As an “island nation” the UK relies on Merchant Navy seafarers for 95 per cent of our imports, including half the food we eat. The UK has the largest ports industry in Europe.
A total of 75 per cent of our exports (by volume) are shipped from UK ports, some of which are supporting the campaign by encouraging visiting ships to sound their horns at 10am on September 3.