The NFFO Supports Charity’s Maritime Poetry Competition.
The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) is supporting one of the UK’s oldest maritime charities to run its annual poetry competition, designed to acknowledge the nation’s continuing reliance on seafarers, whether fishermen or merchant mariners.
The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, which provides financial support to retired or permanently disabled seafarers and their families, is launching the third instalment of its national limerick competition. The competition was launched to coincide with the Charity’s 175th anniversary and is set to be judged by renowned Poet, Broadcaster and Comedian, Ian McMillan.
The Society is inviting people of all ages, including budding young poets from schools, colleges and youth organisations across the country and those of more mature years to enter the popular competition and write an original poem on a maritime subject in limerick form, consisting of no more than five lines, with the first, second and fifth usually rhyming.
Known as the Bard of Barnsley’, Ian McMillan, who previously held the coveted position of poet in residence at the English National Opera, has strong maritime connections, with his father having served in the Royal Navy. To mark the occasion he penned the following limerick in celebration of fishermen to inspire budding poets:
They work on the waves of the sea,
They’re skillful, I know you’ll agree:
They cast out their net
in the cold and the wet
So we can eat fish for our tea!
This year’s competition is being supported by the NFFO, the representative body for fishermen’s groups, individual fishermen and producer organisations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Chief Executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, Barrie Deas, said: Whether fishermen, armed forces or merchant navy, life at sea can be hard and dangerous. Often ex-seafarers can be left feeling isolated or in difficulty financially, so the work of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society is vital in supporting those who have dedicated their lives to the sea. By supporting this competition, we are hopefully encouraging more people to come forward for support and to raise awareness of this often life changing good cause.
Speaking of his involvement Ian said: I’m proud to be associated with a competition that brings together two very important skills: sea fishing and writing poetry. They’re both about tight lines and catching something and bringing it home.
The deadline for entries is Midnight on Friday 21st March 2014 and the charity is offering an engraved barometer and video recording of the wining poem, read by Ian McMillan, as a prize.
To enter the competition, for full terms and conditions or for more information about the work of the Society visit www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk or the society’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/shipwreckedmariners.
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