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.

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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...

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Marchioness at London Eye

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

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Marchioness at National Theatre

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

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Marchioness at RFH

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

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Other Subjects

Percy Baden Powell Huxford

Percy Baden Powell Huxford

Percy Baden Powell Huxford is the 2nd from the right of the seven boys sitting in the photograph of the scout troop. He was born on 9 May 1900, in Walworth, one of at least ten children of Henry W...

Person, Children, Community / Clubs, Tragedy

2 memorials
John Williams

John Williams

"Martyred" missionary. Born Tottenham. Trained as a foundry worker and mechanic. In 1817 the London Missionary Society sent him and his wife to the Pacific Islands where they took the good word to ...

Person, Race Issues, Religion, Tragedy, Pacific Islands

1 memorial
Noel Falconer Filmer

Noel Falconer Filmer

Noel Falconer Filmer is 2nd from the right of the nine boys standing in the photograph of the scout troop. He was born on 13 December 1897, the seventh of the eleven children of John Apps Budds Fi...

Person, Children, Community / Clubs, Tragedy

2 memorials
Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh

Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh

Politician. Born Dublin to a land-owning politician. Entered government in 1798, first in Ireland, and then from 1801 in Westminster. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1812 - 22. 1821 became  ...

Person, Politics & Administration, Tragedy, Ireland

1 memorial
Mugianto

Mugianto

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial