Generous Windermere visitors help raise hundreds for charity

Windermere Lake Cruises has praised the generosity of visitors to the Lake District who’ve helped them raise hundreds of pounds for a charity which supports mariners and fishermen.

The money – a total of £958 - has been collected in the charity’s distinctive collection box – a bright red, former World War Two sea mine on the shore at Bowness Bay. It’s one of 60 former mines used as collection boxes around the country.

They are used to raise funds for the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society which supports the dependents of those lost at sea as well as sick, disabled and retired fishermen and mariners in need.

📷: The position of the mine on Bowness Promenade next to Bowness Pier 1

Jennifer Cormack, Sales and Marketing Director for Windermere Lake Cruises, says: “Whenever we empty the collection box it’s always a wonderful reminder of the generosity of the general public.

“Along with local donations there are donations from visitors who have come to Windermere from countries around the world including Australia, Canada, Japan and all parts of Europe.

“We’ve counted donations from eleven different countries and the grand total collected is £958 which will do so much to help those in need. We would like to thank all those who have supported the Charity.”

📷: Our colleague, Holly, counting up the donations.

The bright red former sea mines were used in the defence of Britain’s coast and harbours in the Second World War and now have a new life as charity collection boxes.

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has a 176-year history supporting the seafaring community. The former mines were originally donated to the Society by the Admiralty in recognition of the Society’s significant help to thousands of shipwrecked survivors during WW2. That wasn’t just sailors but soldiers, airmen, nurses and civilians who were landed at British ports after being rescued – particularly during the Battle of the Atlantic – Britain’s worst maritime conflict.

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society provided immediate financial assistance to survivors arriving back in Britain for clothing, food, accommodation and rail passes to get them home to their loved ones.

The Charity now provides financial support to ex-fishermen, merchant mariners and their dependants in need and also to those injured or too ill to continue working at sea.

📷: Just some of the donations that were retrieved from the mine

Further reading

Find out more and donate to the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society