Red Ensign flag hoisted above town hall to mark Merchant Navy Day

The Red Ensign flag of the UK Merchant Navy was hoisted above Maidenhead Town Hall on Saturday to mark Merchant Navy Day.

The commemorative event, which is held on the same date that World War Two began, has been running since 2000 to honour the brave men and women who have served on the seas over the years.

Rather than combat, the Merchant Navy is responsible for delivering commercial goods across the globe, both to and from the UK.

Merchant Navy veterans, councillors and the Mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead Cllr Sayonara Luxton turned out for the ceremony.

Wreaths were laid to mark the occasion while Father Jeremy Harris, priest of All Saints Church in Boyne Hill, also read some naval prayers.

Event organiser Ray Williams, 68, from Cadwell Drive, served his apprenticeship with the Merchant Navy in the 1960s working for Shell and rose to third officer.

Ray, who is also secretary of Maidenhead’s Royal British Legion branch, said: “It’s nice to get together and spend a couple of moments thinking about what people have sacrificed.

“You need to remember what people have done.”