Freedom of Vale for Merchant Navy (From Barry And District News)

Freedom of Vale for Merchant Navy

THE public are invited to witness a piece of history on Saturday, April 16, when the Freedom of the County Borough of the Vale of Glamorgan will be conferred on the Merchant Navy Association (Wales).

The Freedom is the highest tribute a county borough council can bestow, and the official ceremony, to be attended by civic dignitaries and invited guests, will be held at the Merchant Navy Memorial outside the Vale Civic Offices starting at 11.30am.

The MN organisation will become the first Freemen of the current authority, and the honour recognises the tremendous debt owed to the many merchant seamen who served - and those who died - during the two World Wars, and also those still active.

Personnel representing MNA branches across Wales, England and Southern Ireland - the Barry branch has a Friendship Pact with colleagues in Kinsale are expected to attend the ceremony.

Vale Mayor Cllr Emlyn Williams, who will host the ceremony, said: "The Freedom is a long-standing tradition whereby public recognition can be given to individuals and/or organisations as an expression of the high esteem in which they are held both by the council in the area and its people.

"The Vale, and Barry in particular, is well known for its maritime tradition, and proportionately Barry suffered more than most in terms of World War II casualties of merchant seamen at sea.

To commemorate the occasion, a Freedom of the County Borough certificate will be presented by Cllr Williams to Jim Greenway of the Barry branch .

Wreaths will be laid, prayers will be led by the Rev Malcolm Davies and music will be provided by the Welsh Piping Society.

Unveiled in 1996, the Portland Stone memorial, which will be the focus for the ceremony, was commissioned by the former Vale Borough Council.

It commemorates merchant seamen - their names are inscribed on special plaques - from Barry and the Vale who have given their lives at sea during two world wars.

Following the ceremony, guests will march to the Memorial Hall, Barry, where there will be a parade of MN personnel.