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Familiar Greeting for Scillonian III
1
Apr
2009
Familiar greeting for Scillionian III at start of summer season
April marked the return of one of the Isles of Scilly�s most familiar sights as the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company�s Scillonian III returned to full summer service.
For one St Mary�s resident, the annual return of the daily passenger ferry link to the mainland is an occasion which is marked by her own poignant tradition. For the past 11 years retired teacher Julia MacKenzie has provided a warm welcome to the Scillonian III at the beginning of each sailing season, welcoming the ship and her crew in with a wave and smile. As well as welcoming the first sailing of the season Julia has stood on the quay to wave farewell to the final the ferry of the season every year since taking early retirement in 1998.
Julia first moved to the Isles of Scilly in 1965 and has regarded the service of Scillonian III as a lifeline link ever since. She explained her reasons for providing a personal greeting to the ship and her crew:
�The Scillonian ships have always been an important part of my life on the Island. I love sailing and have an affinity with the ocean. For me the Scillonian is the best way to travel and I miss not seeing her during the winter from my home on the strand overlooking the quay. I always look forward to the start of the spring when the ship returns and, like a familiar friend, I like to greet her and her crew from the quay for her first and last sailing of each season.�
Despite her retirement from teaching, Julia is still actively involved in music in St Mary�s as church organist, choir mistress and accompanist to the choral society and flute trio. Each year the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company supports summer fundraising concerts organised by Julia by providing tickets for mainland professional musicians to travel to the islands for musical events.
Julia continued: �The links provided by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company to the mainland are an integral part of island life and the company is very good at providing support to community events wherever they can..�
Jeff Marston, Chief Executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company said: �We like to think that the service we provide is at heart of the community we serve. Julia�s tradition of providing a friendly greeting on the quay at St Mary�s never fails to raise a smile on the faces of the crew aboard Scillonian III and reminds them of the importance of the service they provide. She�s a great ambassador for the islands as she shows visitors the great community spirit that thrives on the Isles of Scilly.�
Ends
Notes to Editors:
Photography
An image to accompany this press release is attached and shows Julia MacKenzie greeting Scillonian III.
For more information contact:
Shelley Fletcher
PR for Isles of Scilly Steamship Company
01208 77900 / 07796 175634
[email protected]
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