Seafarers’ charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) has appointed a new port chaplain.
Bryony Watson, 23, is the youngest AoS port chaplain, and joins the port chaplaincy team in Immingham. She spent four years as a volunteer ship visitor before taking on her current role.
Born and brought up in Grimsby, she first came to learn about the work of AoS after a talk by Fr Colum Kelly, who leads the Immingham port chaplaincy team.
“I was shocked that I knew so little about the lives of seafarers; especially as I'd lived by the sea all my life.
“Before Fr Colum's talk ships were just lights on the horizon,” she said.
Bryony became involved with AoS soon after, assisting churches with the collection of shoeboxes, woolly hats and warm clothing for seafarers.
Her first ship visit was in December 2012. “I remember feeling over awed with the size of the ship and nervous about the gangway which looked quite precarious.
“However, I also remember the welcome we received, and how pleased the crew were to see us,” says Bryony, who graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art in 2015 and briefly toyed with the idea of teaching in a primary school.
Bryony is an ice hockey player and enjoys reading, especially anything by John Steinbeck and Charles Dickens.
Last year, AoS’ Immingham port chaplains visited 605 ships to provide practical support to seafarers, ranging from arranging transport, supplying phone cards and other welfare assistance.