Commercial ships chartered by the Ministry of Defence to carry equipment to the Gulf region have a supply of books on board for crews thanks to Southampton's Mission to Seafarers.
The master of one vessel telephoned the Reverend Michael Williams, the Mission's Southampton chaplain, to ask if the organisation would loan books so that his crew had something to read on the long voyage.
"I said we could do better than lend them and would give them cases of books that the crew could pass on to other seafarers,'' said Rev. Williams. Six large cases, each holding about 50 books, were loaded on two roll-on, roll-off ships that are transporting tanks, Land Rovers and other supplies for the military.
The Mission to Seafarers is a society of the Anglican Church that cares for the practical and spiritual welfare of seafarers of all races and creeds in 300 ports throughout theworld.
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