The Isle of Wight Unit of the Maritime Volunteer Service have been officially thanked for their community service following the death of Her Majesty The Queen last year.
The volunteers are all part of the national charity which has 20 units around the UK coastline and inland waterways. They operate a fleet of small vessels which are used to train members in seamanship, engineering, and communications.
In addition, the unit’s uniformed volunteers are often called on to help in local resilience situations such as floods, oil spillages and helping with public events such as the ten-day mourning period for Her Majesty The Queen.
Assisted at Church Litten flower laying
During this time, members assisted the council and were deployed at Church Litten Park between 8am and 6pm every day to help with enquiries from the public and to assist them in the laying of flowers.
Head of Unit, David Dobson said,
“Many people wanted to talk to us about Her Majesty, and some asked us to lay their flowers on their behalf. We had some very interesting and emotional conversations.
“We were also impressed by the many amazing sympathy cards made by local children. We collected them each day to prevent them getting damaged overnight and returned them the following day for the public to see. On the final day the cards were boxed up and returned to the council to go in to the archives.”
Thanked by High Sheriff
To acknowledge the work the unit did, the volunteers were invited, together with the Local Resilience Management Team to attend a function at the Island Sailing Club with the Isle of Wight High Sheriff, Kay Marriott. MVS members were presented with certificates to thank them, “In recognition of great and valuable service to the community”.
The High Sheriff also commented that,
“The Maritime Volunteer Service were now part of the Island’s history.
“The unit also attended a service at Newport Minster, where they assisted and formed a Guard of Honour for the Lord Lieutenant and other dignitaries.”
News shared by Keith on behalf of the Maritime Volunteer Service. Ed
