Gainsborough: Flying the flag on Merchant Navy Day

The vice chairman of the council will raise the flag in the presence of representatives from local RAF stations, members of the Royal British Legion and members of WLDC on Merchant Navy Day, Thursday, September 3 .

The council is supporting a nationwide call from the Seafarers UK charity and the Merchant Navy Association for the UK Merchant Navy’s official flag to be flown on public buildings and landmark flagstaffs.

The charity’s president, HRH The Earl of Wessex, has also endorsed the flag raising campaign.

He said: “On this Merchant Navy Day, I very much hope you will support this campaign to remember the sacrifices, salute the courage and support the future of the often unsung personnel of our Merchant Navy.”

As an ‘island nation’ the UK relies on Merchant Navy seafarers for 95 per cent of imports, including half the food we eat.

The UK has the largest ports industry in Europe, 75 per cent of exports are shipped from UK ports, some of which are supporting the campaign by encouraging visiting ships to sound their horns at 10am on Thursday, September 3.