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| Formation | 1850 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Humanitarian |
| Headquarters | Chichester |
Region served | United Kingdom |
Official language | English |
President | AdmiralGeorge Zambellas |
| Website | Shipwrecked Mariners' Society |
Formerly called | The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society |
TheShipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society or theShipwrecked Mariners Society for short, is a national charity founded in 1839, which operates throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, whose purpose is to provide help to former merchant seamen, fishermen and their widows and dependants who are in need. The Society, which operates through a national network of volunteers known as Honorary Agents, deals with over 2,000 cases of need a year and is based inChichester,West Sussex.
The society was founded at the instigation of Mr. John Rye, (married to Ann, a daughter ofSir Berney Brograve, 1st Baronet), aphilanthropic retired medical man ofBath, Somerset and his servant Mr. Charles Gee Jones, born inWeston-super-Mare, a former Bristol pilot and landlord of the Pulteney Arms in Bath, following the tragic loss of life from theClovelly fishing fleet in a severe storm in November 1838. Aided by SirJahleel Brenton, at that time governor ofGreenwich Hospital, Mr. Rye succeeded in establishing the Society, and of collecting a respectable sum as a first subscription, initially by going from house to house in Bath collectinghalf crowns.[1] The portrait(below) of Mr. Rye and Mr. Gee Jones was painted to commemorate the founding of the Society, which now hangs in the boardroom of the Society's Headquarters in Chichester.
The society's first President was AdmiralSir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet, who in the War of 1812 cruisedChesapeake Bay and captured and burnt Washington on 24 August 1814. The Society's first patron wasQueen Victoria and it has had a royal patron ever since; today it is thePrincess Royal. One of its first Vice-Presidents wasSir Robert Peel, 2nd Bt. The Society was incorporated by anAct of Parliament in 1850.
The society's flag, aSt George's cross with the letters SFMS in the quadrants and a number, was displayed by ships and their position reported by the coastguard to theShipping and Mercantile Gazette in London. From 1851 until 1854 it operated lifeboats atLytham,Rhyl,Portmadoc,Tenby,Llanelly,Teignmouth,Hornsea andNewhaven but it was subsequently agreed that it would be wiser if one organisation concentrated on rescuing lives at sea while the other helped the survivors or their bereaved families ashore, so in 1854 the Society transferred its lifeboats to theRNLI.
In 2017, AdmiralGeorge Zambellas, formerFirst Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff took over as President of the society.[2]
In 2021, the Annual General Meeting of the society was held at theFishmongers' Hall in London and the patron of the society,Anne, Princess Royal presented awards of the society.[3]
The society issues lifesaving trophies to those who perform notable acts of rescue at sea, for example, in 2023, a marine engineer was honoured with a lifesaving trophy after he facilitated the rescue of several shipwreck survivors.[4]
Other awards issued by the society include the Lord Lewin Award, the Lady Swaythling Trophy and the Emile Robin Award.[3]
The Society hold an annual photography competition, to raise awareness of its charity work.[5] Submitters are asked for pictures that capture the UK’s connection with the sea, including subjects asmerchant ships,fishing vessels, the coastline,harbours andports.[6]
In 2023, the Society announced the 11th annual winner of its photography prize.[7]