THE Maritime Volunteer Service marked three decades of help to communities and vital training with a celebration in London.
More than 100 MVS guests and members gathered at All Hallows by the Tower, the oldest church in the City of London, for a special thanksgiving service.
The service, which brought together more than 100 distinguished guests from industry, government, parliament, local government, port and harbour authorities, maritime organisations and MVS volunteers from across the United Kingdom, was attended by MVS royal patron, HRH Prince Michael of Kent and MVS president, Admiral Lord West of Spithead. Also in attendance was the the Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, who during the service was installed by Lord West as the MVS honorary regional commodore for the City of London and wider River Thames area.
MVS is a recognised national maritime training and community resilience organisation founded in 1994 after the disbandment of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service (RNXS). It has 20 active units around the United Kingdom and provides nautical training to nationally and internationally recognised standards. It also serves local communities especially in times of need or emergency and takes part in resilience exercises both ashore and afloat.
The service offered a fitting tribute to the MVS volunteers and the work that the charity has undertaken in safeguarding our coastal and inland waterways over the past 30 years.
Lord West said: “All of the successes and achievements over the past 30 years would not have been possible without the dedication and skill of our volunteers. Each and every one of you who has answered the call to step up and serve deserves our thanks and gratitude for the role that you have played and will continue to play in the service of our cause.”
