Event    From 20/8/1989  To 20/8/1989

Sinking of the Marchioness

Categories: Tragedy

The pleasure boat The Marchioness collided with another vessel and sank with the loss of 51 lives. In nearby Southwark Cathedral there is a Marchioness memorial stone.

The following comes from a BBC report of the 20th anniversary of the Marchioness disaster: "The Marchioness had been hired to celebrate the 26th birthday of Cambridge graduate Antonio de Vasconcellos. On board were high-flyers from the worlds of finance and fashion, including Francesca Dallaglio, sister of former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio. More than 130 partygoers were on the Marchioness when it collided with a dredger, the Bowbelle. A Marine Accident Investigation report blamed poor look-outs on both vessels." Chron used to give some details and many of the names of the dead but, 2014, that's now a dead link. We can't find the full list anywhere.

Our colleague, Alan Patient, points out the location of the three plaques contradicts the reports of where the accident happened. Wikipedia says "near Cannon Street Railway Bridge" - that's five bridges further downstream from the most downstream of the three plaques.

2014: Londonist reports the Southwark Cathedral memorial service planned for the 25th anniversary.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sinking of the Marchioness

Commemorated ati

Marchioness at Dulwich

The trees and plants on this green are in memory of Rachael Rackow and Julian...

Read More

Marchioness at London Eye

Near this spot on Sunday 20th August 1989 the pleasure boat Marchioness was i...

Read More

Marchioness at National Theatre

Near this spot on Sunday 20th August 1989 the pleasure boat Marchioness was i...

Read More

Marchioness at RFH

This dark plaque, only about 3 inches square, is attached to a wooden lifebel...

Read More

Other Subjects

Adam James Meere

Adam James Meere

Died while fighting a fire with Bill Faust, see there for details. Born in north-west Surrey. Aged 27, Meere had only completed his basic training a few months before.

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

3 memorials
Matthew Macauley

Matthew Macauley

An information technician killed in the Ladboke Grove rail disaster, aged 26. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out further research: Matthew Peter Macauley was born on 10 October 1972 in Kohimarama...

Person, Tragedy, New Zealand

1 memorial
Sapper McLaren

Sapper McLaren

Royal Engineer killed by an exploding bomb while assisting in the attempt to disarm it. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man: Sapper Edward McLaren was born about 1918 in ...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy, Scotland

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Michael Standring

Michael Standring

British, killed by the Bali bomb, age 31.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Karrie Jane Casner

Karrie Jane Casner

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Venanzio Cardani
War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Emma Skingsley

Emma Skingsley

Resident, aged 60.

Person

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
J. Fairchild
War dead, WW1
1 memorial