Letting someone know they are not forgotten and cared for is essential – especially at Christmas. Throughout the festive period our Port teams work especially hard to bring a smile to those in their fishing communities who are finding life tough.
From Newlyn to Wales, from Peterhead to Kilkeel, we surprised some of our clients with fantastic hampers, packed full of tasty treats. We are thankful to ‘SeaFood and Eat it’ for their heavenly hampers and we want to thank you, our wonderful donors, for making this Christmas cheer possible.
Mrs G, a widow of a long-serving trawlerman, struggles with various health issues. Working with the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society we facilitated a TV for her this year which is crucial as she is virtually housebound. Her hamper was a wonderful surprise and greatly appreciated.
Mr Ritchie fished for many years out of Peterhead. He now lives alone in the town of Cruden Bay. Like all our hamper recipients Mr Ritchie was so thankful to receive such a wonderful gift. To know that somebody cares meant the world to him.
Jean Cooper lost her fisherman husband twenty years ago. Jean now keeps an eye on some of the vulnerable folk in the Grimsby fishing community, helping where she can whilst never asking for help for herself. A wonderful smile from a wonderful lady.
Welsh fisherman Jason Williams contacted the Fishermen’s Mission for support as bad weather had prevented him from fishing for some weeks. Then disaster struck when he broke his ankle, stopping him returning to sea when the weather finally improved. Jason and his daughter Amy really enjoyed their much-needed hamper.
Pieter Schaap is a retired fisherman and cook. Peter, who lives in Fleetwood in a tiny bedsit, has had a difficult year. He treasured his hamper and commented ‘It was prepared and given with love – it’s love in a box!’
Retired Fleetwood fisherman Walter Harrison nearly lost his life to Covid and pneumonia last year. He is now back home after spending weeks in hospital. The Christmas Hamper certainly helped in his recovery.
Fishermen’s Mission Kilkeel Port Officer Lesley Hammond readies herself for a mass delivery of Christmas goodies. Lesley says “We are indebted to the amazing support we have received from local churches, Kilkeel Seafoods, and those who donated anonymously. Your support really helped those in our fishing communities who faced a difficult Christmas.”
A huge thank you to the children of St Patrick’s Primary School in Troon who held a Reverse Advent Calendar to donate festive favourites for their local fishermen and Foodbank. Paula Daly from the Troon Fishermen’s Mission thanks St Patrick’s Headteacher Lynsey May for their generosity.
