The Annual National Service for Seafarers - by #PangCollUpper6th pupil, Harriet (Choir Captain 2022-23):

After three years, the Annual National Service for Seafarers at St Paul’s Cathedral returned.

On Wednesday 12 October 2022 the College Choir, members of  the Upper Sixth including the Chiefs of Division and College, and some staff went to St Paul’s Cathedral for the Seafarers’ Service which was attended by Princess Anne, The Princess Royal. 

The choir (a mix of schools all connected with the maritime community) sang two anthems, one German song testing our ability to pick up the accent, and the other showing the choir how unusual singing in the atmospherics of the Cathedral is. The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth also performed a lovely rendition of Nimrod.

Aside from some gaps during the First and Second World Wars and the recent pandemic, the Service has taken place annually in St Paul's Cathedral ever since it was formed under the chairmanship of Mr Thomas Lane Devitt (one of Pangbourne College’s founders) in 1905. The first congregation was made up largely of serving seafarers, together with fishermen, lifeboatmen, and contingents from naval training establishments, who marched through the streets of London in a procession. 

Today, the maritime activity of London is largely hidden away in offices, although accounting for 95% of all of the UK’s imports and exports. The congregation still reflects the full range of the maritime activities of the nation. Representatives from the Royal and Merchant navies, nautical colleges (schools with a nautical heritage), the fishing industry, maritime youth groups, and veterans associations were all present. 

One of our Chief Cadet Captains of College, Jemma, had the honour of meeting The Princess Royal at the end of the Service. They shared a shake of the hand and a conversation about Jemma’s future plans. 

The Service was a wonderful way to honour all those in the maritime community, and all members of the Choir thoroughly enjoyed the experience.