A MEMORIAL to the 35 passengers and crew who lost their lives when the SS Ellan Vannin sank more than a century ago will be held by the ManxAid charity at the quay side in Ramsey on December 3.
A 15-minute interdenominational service will start at 6.30pm, timed in tribute of Steam Packet vessel, which – after setting off from her home port of Ramsey – succumbed to stormy conditions near Liverpool and sank at 6.30am, December 3, 1909, claiming the lives of all on board.
‘We want to try and do this every year because it is part of the history of the Isle of Man,’ explained ManxAid’s Jim Douglas.
At the quay side service, the opening prayer will be read by Reverend John Guilford of St Paul’s Church, before Ramsey Town Band play Abide With Me.
Wreaths will be laid on behalf of the people of the Isle of Man by Chief Minister Allan Bell, on behalf of the passengers by Geoff Corkish MHK, and on behalf of the crew by a representative from the Steam Packet Company.
The Last Post will be played before a one minute silence, and a closing prayer by Reverend Philip Smith from the United Reformed Church.
It will be followed by a further 45-minute service in Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Maughold Church in Ramsey.
There, Speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodan will play Amazing Grace on the bagpipes, before the opening prayer and introduction from Father Brian O Mahony.
David Cretney MHK will a read a list of the names, and some details of the lives, of the passengers who lost their lives, and the Steam Packet representative will read a list of the Ellan Vannin’s crew members.
Immediately after the service, a special presentation will be made at the Ramsey Park Hotel, to Harry Edmonson, the Liverpool man who is the former custodian of the Ellan Vannin Memorial.