Man behind Merchant Navy memorial on new Glasgow bridge wins UK award

Iain Lindsay was one of six prizewinners from across the UK – and the only one from Scotland - at the Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) annual awards.

The event at London’s Trinity House, which saw a record number of nominations, highlighted the exceptional efforts of individuals and organisations working tirelessly to support seafarers and fishers across the UK.

HRH The Princess Royal, patron of the MNWB, presented the awards, which recognise excellence in innovation, collaboration, lifelong commitment, frontline welfare delivery and voluntary service.

Judges said Iain was recognised for his “compassionate, hands on support for seafarers throughout both active service and retirement - from securing grants and arranging rehousing to offering personal and practical assistance.”

Iain with his fellow awardwinners and HRH The Princess Royal at the event (Image: MNWB)

They added: “His leadership in the creation of the new Merchant Navy memorial plaque on the Govan Partick bridge in Glasgow, commemorating the 55,000 Merchant Navy personnel lost during the Second World War, highlights his deep commitment to remembrance and community.”

Iain at the site of the memorial on the new bridge (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

The Glasgow Times revealed recently that Iain had campaigned tirelessly for a Merchant Navy memorial in the city.

In 1939, Britain's merchant fleet was the largest in the world. In wartime, the ships took servicemen overseas to fight and delivered supplies to the front lines.

The sailors of the Merchant Navy, who were civilians or volunteers, served all over the world, including in the hazardous Arctic convoys that took war supplies to the Soviet Union.

Iain Lindsay (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

The most gruelling conflict in which merchant seamen were involved was the Battle of the Atlantic. As the Germans tried to stop Britain receiving food and supplies, the merchant fleet, with Royal Navy escorts, struggled to get the food, fuel, equipment and raw materials through, under constant attack.

The memorial was unveiled on the Govan Partick bridge as part of the VE Day 80th anniversary commemoration in May,

Stuart Rivers, chief executive of the MNWB, said: “The people we are honouring are the driving force behind real, lasting change in seafarers’ welfare. Their work touches thousands of lives, offering support, dignity and hope to those who spend months away from home keeping global trade moving.

“Their dedication is not only heartwarming - it is transformative. They are all thoroughly deserving of this recognition, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements.”

Iain said he had been “nervous” in the run up to the event, but that it had been an honour to win the award, and to meet Princess Anne.

“I would like to thank those who voted for me, and my team members whose collaboration and support have made this journey not only successful but enjoyable,” he said.

“This award is testament to our collective hard work and dedication to supporting seafarers' nation-wide. I am truly humbled by this award and will continue to strive in everything I do.”

Iain, from Old Kilpatrick, works as a welfare officer for Nautilus International, a maritime welfare organisation.

“I started the Glasgow service nine years ago with only a laptop and a phone,” he says. “I set out to find mariners in Glasgow and surrounding areas.

“Now I cover Scotland and Northern Ireland. I'm proud of what I have achieved and receiving the award in London was amazing – a truly wonderful experience.”