Sutton Bridge

Improving the lives of seafarers through practical services with a personal touch

Volunteer ship visitor David Jones was born in Wales but grew up in London. He knew little of the Fens and the Haven Ports then but had certainly heard of Sutton Bridge. His father was stationed there during World War Two. Now David visits ships in Sutton Bridge offering the services of AOS to seafarers who, like his father, are separated from home and family.

Around five ships a week visit Sutton Bridge, mainly small coasters carrying steel components, grain, timber and other miscellaneous cargoes. According to David, many local residents are scarcely aware that Sutton Bridge is a port despite the presence of a sling bridge which occasionally opens to allow larger ships up the River Nene to Wisbech.

There is even less awareness locally of the needs of seafarers, the hidden workforce on whom so much trade depends. David admits that his only previous experience of travelling by sea was on the cross-Channel ferries where, in his words, " passengers have plenty of space and crew are seldom seen". When he began visiting ships, he was struck by the conditions onboard, particularly the narrowness of seafarers' living space.

David is now a fully trained AOS ship visitor having passed the Merchant Navy Welfare Board ship welfare visitor training course and also gained practical experience accompanying AOS port chaplain Sr Marian Davey. The tidal nature of the river in Sutton Bridge means that ships are often too low in the water for boarding. However David can still offer services from the quayside. Seafarers can text or phone him if they need transport to communications facilities or shops.

A keen linguist, David is learning Polish with the help of the Polish community at his church. He reports the delight of a Polish chief mate when he was greeted in his own language. Ship visiting brings its rewards. David reports seeing an Indonesian seafarer almost dancing for joy when Sr Marian gave him a teddy bear to take home to his child. When another Indonesian seafarer commented that his wife collected flags, David presented him a flag of St David.

These small considerations make a difference to the pressured and often lonely lives of seafarers. In giving practical services such as phone cards or transport and personal attention, listening and conversation, AOS ship visitors are alongside with seafarers.