A memorial service marking the centenary of the loss of SS Ellan Vannin was held in Ramsey on Thursday 3rd December.
Organised by Ramsey Town Commissioners in association with the Manx Heritage Foundation the service took place beneath sombre skies at 4pm on the town's East Quay, from where the Ellan Vannin set sail at approximately 1am on December 3, 1909 bound for Whitehaven, only to sink with all 14 passengers and 21 crew on board during a violent storm in the early hours that day in the mouth of the River Mersey.
Ramsey Town Commissioners' chairman Sylvia Beattie welcomed descendants of those who perished to the service and said the devastation of the loss of the Ellan Vannin was still felt by the community of Ramsey and the north, the Island and across the shipping world.
Anne Craine MHK, in her capacity as chairman of the Manx Heritage Foundation, gave an address outlining the last hours of the Steam Packet-owned vessel, following which prayers were offered by the Reverend Philip Smith, chaplain to the chairman of Ramsey Town Commissioners.
Director of Education John Cain, the great-grandson of passenger Thomas Henry Quayle, read out the names of all those who lost their lives. Following a minute's silence wreaths were laid by Mrs Beattie, Mrs Craine and Mark Woodward, Steam Packet chief executive, at the memorial plinth on East Quay erected by the Manx Heritage Foundation on the 90th anniversary of the tragedy. In recognition of the centenary the Foundation arranged for the names of those who perished to be added.
The service concluded with a benediction delivered by Reverend Smith.
Pictured
Pictured following the laying of wreaths at the Ellan Vannin memorial on East Quay, Ramsey are, left to right, Steam Packet captains Ken Crellin (retired) and Kane Taha together with chief executive Mark Woodward, Manx Heritage Foundation chairman Anne Craine, MHK, Ramsey Town Commissioners' chairman Sylvia Beattie and the Reverend Philip Smith
Chairman of the Manx Heritage Foundation Anne Craine, MHK, chairman of Ramsey Town Commissioners Sylvia Beattie and Steam Packet chief executive Mark Woodward
The Ellan Vannin memorial erected by the Manx Heritage Foundation to mark the 90th anniversary of the tragedy