Ellan Vannin tragedy recalled 102 years on

‘SNAEFELL, Tynwald, Ben-my-Chree...’ are the opening lines of ‘The Ellan Vannin Tragedy’, a song so well known that many believe it to be traditional.

In fact, it was composed in the 1960s by Hughie Jones of the Liverpool folk group The Spinners.

Hughie visited the island last weekend as guest of honour at a memorial service held to mark the 102nd anniversary of the sinking of the ship.

After the service, he sang the ballad to a rapt audience at the church of Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Maughold.

The outdoor service, which has become an annual event, was held on Ramsey quayside, close to the place where the Ellan Vannin set out in the early hours of December 3, 1909, bound for Liverpool. She was carrying 14 passengers and 21 crew, plus mail and 60 tons of cargo.

At departure, the weather was not particularly rough, and though the barometric pressure was falling, Captain James Teare did not expect any trouble.

As the passage progressed, however, the weather worsened and by 6.35am, when she arrived at the Mersey Bar, the wind had increased to storm force 11, with 20-foot waves. The boat foundered and all on board her were lost.

The memorial service was co-ordinated by Harry Edmondson, of Liverpool, assisted by Ramsey MHK Leonard Singer.

Relatives of victims from both sides of the water were joined by members of the local community, including John Watt, commercial director of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK, chairman of Ramsey Town Commissioners Captain Nigel Malpass, town clerk Peter Whiteway, Michael MacDonald, representing the Isle of Man Coastguard, Kevin Christian, representing Ramsey Lifeboat, George Corlett of the Royal Naval Association and director of harbours Captain Michael Brew.

The service was conducted by Father Brian O Mahony of Ramsey’s Catholic Church, Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Maughold, who referred to the fact that two of those lost had been stonemasons engaged in the construction of the church.

An ensemble from Ramsey Town Band accompanied the hymns and Illiam Quane played the Last Post on the cornet.

Afterwards, Fr O Mahony led the way to the church, where he pointed out the plaque to the two men and the stone arches that were lasting memorials to them, and Hughie Jones then sang his song that keeps alive the memory of all those who died on that fateful journey.

This recording was made by Alex Wotton of Manx Radio and was recorded in October 2011 when Alex interviewed Father Brian O'Mahoney Priest of the Church Our Lady Star Of The Sea and St Maughold which is situated on the Promenade in Ramsey Isle Of Man.

Father Brian will conduct the 102nd Anniversary Ellan Vannin Memorial Service of Remembrance at 2pm on Saturday 3rd December 2011 and following the service the congregation will be taken on a tour of the church to see the plaque dedicated to the two stone masons who helped to build the church and lost their lives returning home to London when Ellan Vannin sank in Liverpool Bay in 1909.

Craftsmen will be remembered

The work of two stone masons who lost their lives in the Ellan Vannin tragedy will feature as part this year's commemoration of the maritime disaster.

The annual memorial service on the quayside at Ramsey will be followed by a gathering at the Church of Our Lady to view the work of Daniel Newall and Walter Williams.

They built the grand arches that decorate the church, and are remembered on a plaque inside the building.

Ramsey MHK Leonard Singer says remembering all those who lost their lives is an important tradition to keep going.

The service will take place on Saturday, December 3 2011.