THURROCK Council marked Merchant Navy Day on a very blustery and wet Wednesday, 3 September, by raising the Red Ensign Flag at the Town Hall, Grays. 

Normally the annual event, marking merchant Navy Day, includes speeches and prayers outside the civic offices, followed by the raising of the flag - but due to the severity of the weather, the flag was quickly raised before gusts including many service veterans, moved indoors to the Mayor's parlour where Mayor Cllr Sue Shinnick played host and honoured the dedicated men and women of the Merchant Navy, past and present.

She said: "Today as we raise the flag on Merchant Navy Day, we especially remember the resolve and bravery of merchant seamen during the second world war as they braved the menace of U-boats, warships, aircraft and mines to keep the country supplied and, in the fight, as we battled to free Europe.

"We think of the heroes of the Merchant Navy's past, the work they do now in bringing goods and materials into the country and exporting what we make to the rest of the world, and of the bright and innovative future ahead of us."

Guests inside ther Town Hall.

Council leader Cllr Lynn Worrall, added: "Merchant Navy Day is the one moment we can acknowledge the invisible service. By flying the Red Ensign on this day, you will be recognising the approximately 80,000 men and women working at sea carrying around 95% of our island nation's trade.

"Regrettably, it is only during times of war that the service enters our consciousness, as is sadly the case today with seafarers running the gauntlet in the Red Sea. This is our one opportunity to show our seafarers how much we value them, past and present, as well as their families."

To donate to the Merchant Navy, visit Seafarers Charity: Merchant Navy Fund UK.

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