Maritime photos show Christmas parties of old

August 25, 2010

An organisation which has provided spiritual and pastoral care for mariners for more than 150 years is celebrating the arrival of a set of historic photos which show Christmas parties of yesteryear.

The Mission to Seafarers, which is located in the historic Mill Dam in South Shields, has received a selection of old photographs from one of its supporters, Audrey Pino.

The photos show how much the care has changed and evolved over the years – back then the organisation had a strong female support network who would do everything from staffing the Flying Angel's canteen to offering a friendly welcome to visiting seamen and knitting socks and scarves for the mariners. The pictures all belonged to Audrey's late sister, Mary Scarfe, who worked as a hostess at the Mission.

Audrey said, “After a dance would be over for the evening, for instance, everyone would go into the chapel for prayers. It was pretty strict like that. But it was a wonderful atmosphere. There used to be days out to other missions, I remember. I assume most of the padres must have known each other."

"The pictures here certainly reflect that conviviality, recalling trips out, and also several Christmas parties,” she added.