The Watch Ashore

Officers of the branch

Chairman: Elizabeth Wortmen

Secretary: Jean Smart

Contact the Sunderland Branch

To get in contact with the Sunderland Branch please use the details on our main contact page.

Meetings

The Sunderland Branch meets monthly to fundraise for local Seafaring Chanrities and for social contact.

Upcoming Events

Our programme of events is currently being updated and will be uploaded soon. For more information please contact the Branch Secretary.

The Watch Ashore in Sunderland

The first meeting of the Watch Ashore in Sunderland was held in May 1944, with the object of forming a Section covering Sunderland and South Shields.

A small committee was formed and social activities were planned. There was a large seafaring community in both towns and it was hoped that the organization would be of interest to many people, especially as the general public had also come to realize what a very important part the Merchant Navy had played in the war.

In 1965 the 21st Anniversary was celebrated with a dinner attended by Lady Headley, Mrs Dougal and the Mayoress of Sunderland. There was a special birthday cake to mark the occasion.

In the same year Mrs Tooley suggested giving every member 10 shillings to see how much money they could make with it, and the total was sent to the Churchill Fund as a tribute to the work of Sir Winston Churchill.

Also in 1965, Chief Engineer and Mrs. Watson were invited to a Garden party at Buckingham Palace, and in the years which followed Sunderland Branch was represented at a number of national celebrations:

In 1971, Captain and Mrs. Morris were invited to represent the Merchant Navy on Remembrance Sunday in Westminster Abbey, When Captain Morris stood beside Admiral Clinton at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

In 1972, Mrs Lay received the MBE at Buckingham Palace for her services to the Red Cross.

In 1973 Captain and Mrs. Morris represented the Merchant Navy at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party.

In 1975, the same couple represented the Merchant Navy on Anzac Day, Captain Morris placing a wreath on the Cenotaph on behalf of the Service and later attending the service in Westminster Abbey.

The branch has always held a big Christmas Dinner, the proceeds being given to seafaring organisations, and every year until 1982, two officers of the branch visited the Trafalgar Seaman’s Homes on the Monday before Christmas to present each inmate with a cash gift. Originally, this was half-a-crown, but it increased with the years until 1982, when it was decided to give an amount en bloc to the Trustees, as the value of money had dropped dramatically over the years. This tradition has continued ever since that time.

From the 2008 AGM

"At our Annual General Meeting in Sunderland (May 2008), we stayed at the Roker Hotel.

Imagine our surprise when one of the waitresses asked about our group. As you know we are not shy about saying who we are and who we represent and the National Committee members told Janet the waitress that there would be approximately 65 other ladies joining the group the next day, from all over Britain and that we were all members of The Watch Ashore a national association supporting the Merchant Navy.

Janet was delighted and said that her grandfather had been in the Merchant Navy and she would bring in some information about him..."

Download the National Triennial May 2009 report to read the full story and read the associated articles.

• Thirteen Days in the Deadly Arctic (pdf, 451kb)
• Sunday Post Article 30/10/1960 (pdf, 203kb)
• Sunderland Echo 9/11/2000 (pdf, 159kb)

For more information on the history of our branch read The Watch Ashore 1933 – 1958 A Short History