We’re not sailing
All sorts of things get washed up on Littlehampton beach. But it’s not every day that a 3,000-ton cargo ship parks itself on our river wall.
Whatever technical breakdown or other malfunction caused the vessel to do this, it must’ve been a complete embarrassment for the captain and his crew. However, it was an awe-inspiring spectacle for the countless locals and visitors who swarmed the shoreline.
HIGH SEAS
Everyone was in good spirits, taking photographs and taking time to talk to one another. It was as if one ship’s misfortune drew virtually a whole town together for a good old natter. You could still walk along the pier much later in the day and bump into people you knew, just about recognising them in the fading twilight.
While it seems the rest of the country has been rioting, it’s been fairly quiet here on the coast – until today, that is. Of course, we hope the crew keep safe, their vessel gets afloat and doesn’t leak any oil. But we’ll all remember this moment for a long time to come. Some of us may well follow up contacts we renewed in this dog end of summer.
God bless all those whose livelihood takes them on the high seas. (Photo: Clive Price)
