Ian Davies, a crew member at Hoylake RNLI and a regular contributor here at HoylakeJunction.com has been in touch to let us all know about a memorial service taking place this week that has links to Hoylake.
(Ellan Vannin is Manx for Isle of Man)
Ian says:
[there is] a memorial service taking place this Thursday (3rd December) to remember all those who lost their lives on the SS Ellan Vannin disaster in 1909 (more news here).
The connection to us at Hoylake Lifeboat is that we attended the disaster in the NNW hurricane and we actually have a picture of the lifeboat returning in full sail from that unsuccessful service 100 years ago on show as part of our history in pictures. The Ellan Vannin sank in the area roughly looking between the last two turbines (east or right looking from Hoylake promenade) of the Burbo Bank wind farm at the entrance to the Queens channel. The ferry service departs Liverpool landing stage @ 10:00HRS on Thursday.
Ellan Vannin
Congratulations on this morning’s event. There was certainly a very impressive turnout and the ferry crew did us proud in the prevailing weather conditions. The mood was certainly very positive and appreciative.” The Hoylake model boat club were proud to be assciated with the event as one of our members Max Ferrie actually made the model of the Ellan Vannin complet with stormy seascape. You can see a picture on the “Waterlootheplace” web site on thier dedicated page to the event.