Grimsby Port Missioner honoured

TONY Jewitt, the Grimsby fishermen’s port missioner, has been recognised for his dedication and hard work on behalf of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society.
He was recently presented with the Lord Lewin Award by the Society’s Patron, The Princess Royal (Princess Anne), at the Charity’s AGM and Skill and Gallantry Awards. 
The Lord Lewin Award is presented to the Charity’s volunteers who have given exceptional service. 
Tony Jewitt has been the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society’s Honorary Agent in Grimsby since June 2010. In that time he has submitted 445 applications for assistance and invested considerable time and effort into supporting the applicants and finding those that the Society could help. 
Furthermore, Jewitt has provided essential support to the 124 regular beneficiaries in the area who rely on the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society for help. 
Born in Grimsby, Jewitt left school at the age of 16 to join the Royal Navy. Upon finishing his naval career he went into the newspaper industry. 
Later, he and his wife Sue set up their own successful marketing and graphic design company in Grimsby, which was followed by a role as leaders of a church in Weston-super-Mare where they helped expand its ministry to the poor and vulnerable. 
Moving back to Grimsby in 2009, Jewitt joined the Fishermen’s Mission, subsequently being appointed as Superintendent.
Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society Chief Executive, Commodore Malcolm Williams, said: ‘Tony has provided an invaluable service to the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society over his time with us.
‘This award is testimony to his enthusiasm and commitment to the Society, which we are proud to be able to reward. 
‘His outstanding efforts on behalf of former fishermen and their dependants is deserving of wider public recognition.’

These days Tony tends to Grimsby’s shrinking fishing community and the Fishermen’s Mission helps scores of former trawlermen struggling to survive.