Pupils who returned from an adventurous voyage under sail aboard a Tall Ship paid tribute for their “safe delivery” at the annual Seafarers Mass.
The three seniors from George Green’s Secondary on the Isle of Dogs were selected by the crew of the Tall Ship Company to carry its flag at St Paul’s Cathedral in the City.
They had taken part in a week’s voyage from the Millwall Docks sailing around the Channel and The Solent on a 60ft sailing craft.
“It’s a great honour for them to take part in such a prestigious service at St Paul’s,” a staff member at their school said. “The boys had a great day in the City and even met our local MP.”
Poplar & Limehouse MP Jim Fitzpatrick also attended the service and joined the youngsters afterwards for a souvenir picture on the cathedral steps.
Other Tower Hamlets secondary schools taking part in last month’s voyage were Langdon Park, Morpeth, Oakland’s and St Paul’s Way aboard the good ship Stavros Niarchos.
The pupils all earned a Royal Yachting certificate from the Tall Ships Youth Trust.
The ship set off from West India Quay with a full-time professional crew and sailed down the Thames and around the coast, reaching Dartmouth in four days, teaching the youngsters to sail, navigate, set the sails out, climb the yards and haul ropes as a team, while on look-out for other vessels.
They also had to do the ship’s washing up!
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here