Members of the Northumbria Unit of the Maritime Volunteer Service have paid their respects to those who served and sacrificed their lives in service to the country.
The MVS has organised a parade of sail on Remembrance Sunday at Newcastle’s Quayside for the past seven years but this year due to COVID restrictions, they decided to cancel the event and lay poppy wreaths in key parts of the River Tyne.
The wreaths were placed in the Tyne from their vessel ‘Northumberland Freemason’ at Newcastle Quayside, Gateshead Millennium Bridge, North Shields Fish Quay and the Herd Groyne at South Shields with a blessing from unit padre John McDonald.
Head of Unit Angela Carrington said: “This year we can’t go ahead with the flotilla as normal but it’s important for the people in this region to see that everyone involved in the maritime community on the river still cares.”
Nationally, the MVS has more than 25 active units spread around the UK coastline at major port and river areas, with more units planned. Northumbria Unit is based at St Peter’s Marina on the Tyne although their vessels can operate from the Tweed to the Tees.
The aim of the MVS is to keep the country’s maritime traditions alive. Practical training in seamanship, small boat handling, engineering and communications helps to achieve this. The unit played an active role in Tall Ships in Sunderland and Blyth.
Anyone wishing to know more about the MVS can email angela@mvs-northumbria.org.uk
