Seafarers’ charity changes tack to use original name

The Sailors’ Families’ Society, which can trace its roots back to a meeting in a classroom in Hull in 1821, will tomorrow revert back to the Sailors’ Children’s Society, the name it carried until the 1990s.

The change, which will see the charity rebranded with a new logo, has been backed by its patron, the Princess Royal, who attended a launch party on board the HQS Wellington on the Thames earlier this month.

Deanne Thomas, the society’s chief officer, said: “Sailors’ Children’s Society better reflects the work we do nowadays focused entirely on children. We currently support 393 children from fishing, merchant and Royal Navy families with financial grants, caravan holidays and practical and emotional help during times of need.

“As we celebrate 190 years of caring for seafarers children this year, it seems appropriate to rename during our year of celebration in order to let the people of Hull and East Riding know that we are still here to help.

“We were honoured that our patron, HRH Princess Royal, very kindly accepted our invitation to rename the society and unveil the new logo in the presence of some of the families we help along with supporters, volunteers and staff.”

The Hull-based charity supports children across the UK, and currently provides assistance in seafaring communities including Hull, Plymouth and Aberdeen.

It celebrated its 190th anniversary in April with a re-enactment of its founding meeting at a boys’ school in Salthouse Lane.