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- Tribute to Ellan Vannin victims
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04 December 2009
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Mersey Ferries has hosted a memorial event to commemorate the anniversary of a sinking that stunned the Isle of Man 100 years ago.
The SS Ellan Vannin, travelling from Ramsey, Isle of Man, to Liverpool was overwhelmed by a freak wave in one of the worst storms of the century.
All 21 crew members, 15 passengers and 60 tons of cargo and mail was lost.
A service, led by Rev Canon Bob Evans and Isle of Man Chief Minister, Tony Brown, was held on board the Snowdrop during the river cruise yesterday.
The voyage, supported by Merseytravel, cruised towards the Mersey Bar in the area where the Ellan Vannin foundered.
Children from St John’s CoE Primary School in Waterloo and TS Starling sea cadets cast 36 red roses into the river for each of the lives lost.
A minute’s silence was held, as was the sounding of the Last Post and wreathes were thrown into the sea by dignitaries.
More than 250 people boarded the cruise, on which former member of the Spinners, Hughie Jones, sang his own song The Ellan Vannin Tragedy.
Pictured:
Bootle councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, presents a tribute to Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, Tony Brown (centre) and Robert Quayle of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (right).
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