PRIME MINISTER JOHN Major has given his backing to a plan to add a British member to the international Mercy Ships fleet, which takes free medical aid and health care to the world's poor and needy.
"Mercy Ships' message of care and mercy is both practical and spiritual," he said in a letter to last month's announcement of a campaign to launch a British-based hospital ship by the end of the decade. He told of his "firm support...for this visionary enterprise."
The premiere's endorsement was read to almost 300 guests at an inaugural dinner for the new charity Mercy Ships UK, hosted by the Lord Mayor of London, surgeon John Chalstrey, at the historic Mansion House.
The new charity, established in January, was invited to host the evening at the capital's famous building after the Lord Mayor visited the Mercy Ships' flagship, the 11,700-ton Anastasis, on a three-week goodwill visit to London a year ago.
"The warm reception we received at the dinner, and the interest shown during the Anastasis's last visits to the UK leads me to believe that there is great support for a British mercy ship," said Allan Guinan, director of the new charity.
"We believe that there are many people in Britain who share our concern for those in other parts of the world who are less fortunate."
Around 30 Britons currently serve on board the Anastasis - whose crew includes doctors, dentists and health workers, as well as seamen - with others working in other Mercy Ships offices and projects in different parts of the world.
Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 as the maritime division of Youth With A Mission, since when her ships have completed medical, health and community development projects in over 60 port districts around the world.
Last updated: 1996, June 08 /pf