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Archived News |
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17th October 2006 Royal Seal of Approval The Centre was very pleased to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to the Centre on October 17th on the annual Volunteers and Supporters day. The visit of the Princess, which had been planned for some months, put the Royal seal of approval on the Ecumenical maritime partnership in Southampton. The Princess Royal was welcomed to the Centre by Mr Andrew Kent, Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire; The High Sheriff of Hampshire, Mrs Jane Benson; The Mayor of Southampton, Councillor John Slade and the Suffragen Bishop of Southampton, The Rt Rev Paul Butler. 
HRH The Princess Royal meeting civil officials including the High Sheriff of Hampshire, the Mayor of Southampton and the Bishop of Southampton . The Princess spent time talking to both the Trustees of the Centre and to Mr Colin Dorrington the Centre Manager. The Chaplaincy team of Fr Patsy Foley of the Apostelship of the Sea, The Rev Frans Sahetapy of the British and International Sailors' Society and The Reverend Andrew Huckett of The Mission to Seafarers were presented to The Princess Royal before the Princess joined a congregation of more than 75 volunteers and supporters for a short service, led by the Chaplains, of thanksgiving for the work done at the Centre and in the port by the volunteers and supporters. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Princess Royal meeting the Trustees of Centres for Seafarers. |
The Princess Royal meeting the Chaplaincy Team. |
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The Princess Royal accepted a cheque from Mr Tony MacDonald on behalf of the Southampton Shipowners Association, as a part of their charitable support to the Centre. Other members of the port community, including Doug Morison the Port Director, were presented to HRH during the short presentation ceremony. 
HRH accepting a generous cheque for £5000 from Tony MacDonald, Vice Chairman of the Southampton Shipowners Association. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Volunteers from the three Societies assembled in the main Centre area and the Princess Royal spoke to everyone and clearly showed her great interest and knowledge of the maritime welfare work that the Societies undertake. Supporters of the Centre, those connected with other maritime organisations that use the Centre as their meeting place and the staff who work in the Centre were presented. | ||||||||||||||||||||
HRH meeting Mission to Seafarers supporters. |
HRH meeting Apostleship of the Sea supporters. |
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HRH meeting British and International Sailors' Society (BISS) volunteers and staff . |
HRH meeting Centre staff and other supporters. |
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Sea Cadets from the Southampton Sea Cadet Corp were on duty and were presented to The Princess Royal. Members of the port business community, including the Harbour Master and senior managers from the major shipping lines who use the port and the Esso Refinery at Fawley were present, all of whom actively support the work of the Centre. Two Officer Navigation Cadets, in training at the Warsash College, were present and spoke to the Princess about their training and forthcoming sea service. 
Sea Cadets from the Southampton Sea Cadet Corp. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Officials from the Port. |
Officer Cadets from Warsash College. |
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At the conclusion of her visit The Princess Royal unveiled a plaque commemorating her visit and spoke of her pleasure in attending the Centre and hoped that this ecumenical venture would be a blue print for future centres in the UK. 
The Princess Royal unveiling a plaque to commemorate the visit. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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