This article will make your blood boil

[Roger Dyer]

Hi Shipmates,

Following sage comment by Ivan (Cloherty) in #63 I took his advice and at 2.09pm., this date, (Oz time) I sent a further email to Mayor Rahman at Tower Hamlets Council for which I received automatic acknowledgement. The main content of my email reads............

................................Please accept my sincere gratitude for the action you have taken to prevent the use of Trinity Gardens as a venue for social functions.

Your wise and timely intervention was the right and decent thing to do. By choosing this course of action you have prevented an unpleasant situation from escalating, which would surely have been to the detriment of us all and for this you deserve credit. Sadly, I note that Trinity House have been less than forthcoming regarding their involvement in this matter.

By now it should be clearly understood that the memorial at Tower Hill is regarded by the Merchant Navy Community, past and present, as a shrine to the memory of the many seafarers who gave their lives to the cause of freedom, a freedom that we still enjoy to this day. It is a place where seafarers and public alike can go to reflect and pay their respects. It is, perhaps, of particular importance to the families of those whose lives were lost.

Let us hope that never again will any person or persons have the temerity and insensitivity to suggest that this site be used for anything other than it's intended purpose...............................


Finally, I would like to thank you all for bringing the extent of our disgust and anger to public notice. I could be mistaken about this, but it seems to me that we on this site punched well above our weight. Marvellous what a bunch of old sailors can do isn't it ?


...................................regards, Roger.

[happy daze john in oz]

You did better than me Roger. I also sent an e-mail but not a word back. Maybe their system is clogged?

[Roger Dyer]

John.......Did you direct your email to the Mayor himself ?, if not, should you still wish to do so, try

sending it to ...mayor@towerhamlets.gov.uk....and see if you have better luck, mate. If their system is clogged I wouldn't be at all surprised.


regards, Roger

[Ivan Cloherty]

Hi Shipmates,

Following sage comment by Ivan (Cloherty) in #63 I took his advice and at 2.09pm., this date, (Oz time) I sent a further email to Mayor Rahman at Tower Hamlets Council for which I received automatic acknowledgement. The main content of my email reads............

................................Please accept my sincere gratitude for the action you have taken to prevent the use of Trinity Gardens as a venue for social functions.

Your wise and timely intervention was the right and decent thing to do. By choosing this course of action you have prevented an unpleasant situation from escalating, which would surely have been to the detriment of us all and for this you deserve credit. Sadly, I note that Trinity House have been less than forthcoming regarding their involvement in this matter.

By now it should be clearly understood that the memorial at Tower Hill is regarded by the Merchant Navy Community, past and present, as a shrine to the memory of the many seafarers who gave their lives to the cause of freedom, a freedom that we still enjoy to this day. It is a place where seafarers and public alike can go to reflect and pay their respects. It is, perhaps, of particular importance to the families of those whose lives were lost.

Let us hope that never again will any person or persons have the temerity and insensitivity to suggest that this site be used for anything other than it's intended purpose...............................


Finally, I would like to thank you all for bringing the extent of our disgust and anger to public notice. I could be mistaken about this, but it seems to me that we on this site punched well above our weight. Marvellous what a bunch of old sailors can do isn't it ?


...................................regards, Roger.

Roger thanks for that, tried to use the "Thankyou" button, but it wouldn't let me, telling me I'm not logged in when I know I am, anyway what can we say but "we did it" but the event organisers still do not understand that they have done something morally wrong, would seem that a good education doesn't include morals nor would it seem that their parents told them right from wrong, all they see is a cash register-sad!

[happy daze john in oz]

2156 hours Wednesday evening Melbourne time.
I have just recieved an e-mail from Tower Hamlets council to tell me, THE PROPOSED EVENT WILL NOT TAKE PLACE AS WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF OFFENDING ANY ONE ON THIS MATTER.

Pressure from various points has done the job, those brave souls who paid the ultimate sacrifice may now rest in peace.
LEST WE FORGET

Dear John Strange

Thank you for your recent enquiry regarding the use of Trinity Square Gardens for events. The booking in question will now not take place, please see the statement below from the Mayor of Tower Hamlets:

"Commenting on the Trinity Gardens proposals, Mayor Lutfur Rahman said, "Staging events in the Gardens was an idea put forward by Trinity House who have been working with the Council and the proposed event organisers so I am surprised by comments made this weekend. The Council do not wish to cause any offence to any of the parties involved. As it no longer has the support of Trinity House and the maritime community I have put a stop this event."

Your Sincerely

Arts and Events Team
Cultural Services
Tower Hamlets Council


Sir, I have today been reliably informed, that the local council has given permission to a bankers end of year party, to be held on Tower Green on the grounds surrounding the Merchant Navy Memorial.
As an ex British Merchant Seaman now residing in Melbourne Australia I am appalled to think that the council would even consider such a request.
The Merchant Navy Memorial and the Memorial Gardens are sacred to the memory of the more than 30,000 Merchant Seamen and Women who made the ultimate sacrifice during both world wars.
Had it not been for their sacrifice the UK may well have been a far different place today, a place where such events may not have been allowed.
These gardens are now considered to be hallowed ground, the only resting place for the spirit of these brave souls. Their resting place is the deep oceans, this is the only grave site family and friends can come to, to pay respects.
How would you like it if a party was held in the cemetery of your loved ones, drinking and dancing around the graves?
Such a end of year party would never be allowed to be held by the Cenotaph, or at the grave of the unknown soldier, so why at the Merchant Navy Memorial grounds?
I left the Uk many years ago for a better life, a life away from such moronic activities.
I consider this decision by your council to allow the grounds to be used in such a manner an insult to the memory of those brave souls.
I request that you reconsider your approval of the use of these grounds.

[Pete Leonard (Bruno)]

This matter seems to have been settled now, thanks to caring members of this site. It seems however that the villain of the piece is Trinity House who gave their permission in the first place. It would seem that Tower Hamlets Council had accepted their application without any research. I always thought that Trinity House, who control all the lighthouses and lightships around the UK were very much involved with mariners. It seems I was wrong

[Ivan Cloherty]

This matter seems to have been settled now, thanks to caring members of this site. It seems however that the villain of the piece is Trinity House who gave their permission in the first place. It would seem that Tower Hamlets Council had accepted their application without any research. I always thought that Trinity House, who control all the lighthouses and lightships around the UK were very much involved with mariners. It seems I was wrong

Hi Bruno, seems we all had the same misconceptions of Trinity House in protecting our heritage and our colleagues sacrifices, seems that the filthy lucre has made them forget their role of protecting mariners and that they are now just another commercial enterprise.

Also have you noticed how their silence is deafening which goes to show that they do not have the courage to make a rebuttable of the allegations laid against them, or does it show that the allegations are in truth "fact" and not fiction. It would be nice to hear from them, surely someone from that erstwhile establishment has the courage to speak up, and if in fact they were complicit in renting out this venue, then let us know, we will forgive them, "once", as anyone can make a mistake, especially as I suspect that there are now a lot of shore wallahs within the establishment to whom it is "just a job" and have no real understanding of the word "bretheren"

Surely one of you upright men of "The Bretheren of Trinity House" must be reading these posts, if not why not, and if you are, then one of you upright and standing gentlemen should stand up and be counted and explain yourself, as if those allegations laid against are to be laid to rest then we need to know the truth, at the moment your silence is deafening.

Ivan
ex Hull Trinity House Navigation School, please don't make me be ashamed to be associated with a name I was always proud to serve

[Captain Kong]

I think Trinity House is a Despicable organisation for even having the slightest thought of it.
SHAME ON YOU TRINITY HOUSE.

[Chris Allman]

Gentlemen,

I agree that an explanation from Trinity House should be forthcoming, so to that end, I have E mailed them with the following :-

Dear Sirs,

I have followed the incredible story of the plans to hold Christmas Parties at Trinity Gardens adjacent to the Tower Hill, British Merchant Navy Memorial. These plans went totally against the whole ethos of the gardens and the memorial. The plans were a disgrace and an insult to all those mariners that died in the service of their country, their relatives, friends and indeed those presently serving in the British Merchant Navy. Fortunately good sense has prevailed and the plans have now been dropped, after serious public and media objection.

Both the caterers and Tower Hamlets Council have indicated publically, that Trinity House was a moving force behind these plans and had in fact approved them in June of this year.

In view of this, would it not be prudent for Trinity House to give a public explanation as to the allegations made against them in relation to the plans and the involvement of Trinity House in their formation. This would serve to satisfy the uncertainty and suspicion that is beginning to surface amongst Mariner Groups and Merchant Navy Associations etc, and give Trinity House a chance to give their side of the story.

I look forward to your comments.

Yours sincerely

Chris Allman.

I shall let you know should any reply be forthcoming.

Chris
.


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[Keith at Tregenna]

Link: AncientBriton

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More reports from London:

1:
Uproar over bid to use Trinity Square Gardens, home to seamen

2: Mayor blocks plans to use wartime memorial park Trinity Square Gardens for drink-fuelled parties - News - London 24

K.