Mike is a Trustee of Mission to Seafarers with particular responsibility for Latin America and the Carribean. This Anglican charity began in 1835 with the purchase of a ship to visit the 400 ships that regularly anchored out in the Bristol channel.  With chaplains in 250 port cities around the world they seek to support the over two million seafarers of all nationalities, genders and ranks. Generally, at any given time there are over half a million of these are from the Philippines. Many of these men and women are away from families for up to eight months, sometimes longer. Support is not just given to the seafarers, but also to their families, particularly around the wise use of the earnings. There are also occasions where a ship can simply be abandoned by the owners in an obscure location with all the crew still on board and unpaid for their work. Chaplains will be involved with pastoral care in this and other difficult situations. Mike stated that the continuity of car was very important.  If a chaplain has been working with someone who is on a ship that then sets sail, the chaplain will notify a chaplain at the next port so that contact can be made. Mike attended a large conference in Brazil and met many chaplains. The Dean of Buenos Aires Cathedral is also a chaplain and with him Mike flew to Argentina. This was shortly after the death of Pope Francis. Mike was asked by the dean to join a team to feed the homeless in the main square as Pope Francis had done when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires.  Mike preached at the Cathedral next day and was shocked to see some of the same people in the congregation and was deeply moved. He was also humbled to be asked to pray with the head of security at the port, a world authority on address international drug trafficking. He then flew to Trinidad to hold a number of meetings to help revive the chaplaincy centre in the Port of Spain. Mike feels he has a personal mission to see that Sea Sunday, which focusses on the needs of seafarers and the work of this charity, regains the significance that it once had in churches in this country.

Playlist

Belinda Carlisle – Get together – Belinda is one of the acts performing next weekend at Hylands House in Chelmsford. No 19 this week in the PhoenixFM chart.

Marvin Gaye – What’s going on – title track of 1970 album no 1 in Rolling Stone 500 Greatest albums of all time. Chosen by studio guest last week Lynn Dejoodt from CHESS homeless. She updated us on the work of this charity which now covers 8 local authority areas. You can be involved in so many ways as a volunteer. You might also like to be part of the great sleep out, experiencing one night sleeping outside in the grounds of Chelmsford cathedral. Register for £10, get sponsored by your friends and then bring your sleeping bag.

David Gray – Sail away – 1998 track from the album – White Ladder. UK & Ireland no 1. This was the first track chosen for us today by Mike Power for obvious reasons.

Rachel Zegler – Don’t cry for me Argentina – from the production of Evita running at the London Palladium. Mike saw the show last week. This track reminds him of feeding the poor in Buenos Aires.

Billy Ocean – Suddenly – 1985 UK & USA no 4, Top 10 in 2 more countries. Billy was born in Trinidad. Mike visited the island on this trip. Billy Ocean lived some of his teenage years in Romford. Mike discovered this fact having chosen the track. This amazed him, as a number of years ago he was the vicar in Romford.

For more information about the charity and their work supporting seafarers, check out

htps://www.mission to seafarers.org

Birthdays competition

Archies – Sugar sugar – 1969 best-selling single of the year in UK & USA. UK no 1 for 4 weeks. USA no 1 for 8 weeks. No 1 in 14 more countries. Top 10 in 9 more countries. Global sales of over 6 million. Ron Dante was the lead singer for the fictional cartoon band. Last Saturday he celebrated his 80th birthday.

Alexandra Burke – The silence – from her 2009 debut album – Overcome. No 1 in UK & Ireland, selling over 2 million copies. Alexandra is 37 years old.

Billy Ray Cyrus – Achy breaky heart – 1992 debut single. No 1 in Australia & New Zealand. UK no 3, USA no 4, Top 10 in 5 more countries. Global sales of 3 million.

Thanks to Chris, Bob & Sarah in Harlow, Mike in the studio, Sian in New South Wales and Chris in Guildford for participating today. The winner with 4 points was Sian.

Blue Mink – Banner man – 1971 UK no 4, Top 10 in UK Top 5 in Australia & Belgium, no 11 in The Netherlands. Patrick in Ingatestone requested a track by the group.

Deacon Blue – Late 88 – No 20 this week in the PhoenixFM chart.

Jamie Cullum – Everlasting love – 2004 UK no 20. Top 20 in Denmark & The Netherlands

Chart this week in 1982

No 2 Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Come on Eileen. Best selling single of the year. Brit award single of the year. No 1 UK, USA & 6 more counties. Top 10 in another 5 countries.

No 3 Duran Duran – Save a prayer – No 2 UK & Ireland. Edited live version USA no 16 & Top 20 in 3 more countries.

No 10 Irene Cara – Fame – originally released in 1980, winner of Academy award and Golden globe for original song from a film. Re-released in UK after screen of TV series Kids from fame on BBC1. UK no 1.

Quincey Jones – Soul boss nova. 

Harry Styles – Treat people with kindness – from his 2019 album – Fine line – winner of a Grammy award and a Brit award. USA no 1 & in 12 more countries. UK no 2.

Next week my studio guest is Julie Hardy from the churches in Kelvedon Hatch, Navestock & Bentley Common. She will be talking about the Smashing the Stigma event in September.