Cathedral
Wednesday, 11 April 2018 in 56m
1344 Hunslet Bob Major
1 Barbara Wheeler
2 Barbara Davies
3 David J Hamby
4 Elizabeth Thompson
5 Sonia Thompson
6 Stephen B Bell
7 William Davidson
8 Howard E J Smith (C)
9 Richard Grainger
The bells of this Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas were rung today as part of “Ringing to Remember” – the Durham & Newcastle Association of Church Bellringers First World War ringing commemoration. One hundred years ago a bellringer from St. Michael’s, Bishopwearmouth died. We rang to celebrate his life and the ultimate sacrifice that he made.
2nd. Engineer, Thomas Richardson
Born in Sunderland, one of six children. Son of Francis Richardson and Elizabeth Richardson (nee Proud), of 3, Ivanhoe Crescent, Sunderland.
Ringer at St. Michael, Bishopwearmouth, which is now Sunderland Minster.
Thomas was 2nd/Eng. On the S.S. "Myrtle Branch" (Sunderland). This steamer built by J. L. Thompson & Sons, Ltd of Sunderland, was a 3,741grt, defensively-armed British Merchant Ship. She had sailed from Hampton Roads in convoy HH48 on 28th. March 1918. On 11th. April Myrtle Branch was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UB.73 off Inishtrahull, County Donegal on voyage from Coronel and Newport News, Virginia (Hampton Roads) to Liverpool. Thomas drowned aged 34 along with 14 of his shipmates.
Thomas is remembered at - The Tower Hill Memorial commemorating sailors who have no known grave; Book of Remembrance Holy Trinity Church Sunderland, removed to the Donnison Heritage and Education Centre, Church Walk, Sunderland; the Ringers Memorial plaque at Newcastle Cathedral and in the Central Council of Church Bellringers Roll of Honour kept below the ringing chamber at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Thomas Richardson we have remembered you

This performance is linked to the event Durham & Newcastle Diocesan Association — Ringing to Remember

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