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

Michelle Dunlop

Michelle Dunlop

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Sapper Albert Edward Kells

Sapper Albert Edward Kells

Albert Edward Kells was born on 21 April 1882 in Kennington, Surrey (now Greater London), one of the fifteen children of Trumpet-Major Robert Kells, V.C. (1832-1905) and Sarah Ann Kells née Matthew...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Robert J. Halligan

Robert J. Halligan

United Kingdom citizen who died in the terrorist attacks in America on 11 September 2001. Robert John Halligan was born on 11 June 1942 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. He was a son of William John H...

Person, Tragedy, USA

1 memorial
James Stuart Nicholas Mayes

James Stuart Nicholas Mayes

James Stuart Nicholas Mayes was born on 16 April 1977 the younger of the two children of Bernard J. Mayes and Rosemary S. Mayes née Rampton. His birth was registered in the Hampstead registration d...

Person, Tragedy

3 memorials
Henry Hicks

Henry Hicks

From the Islington Gazette: "Henry Hicks, 18, died of head injuries when his moped crashed in Wheelwright Street, next to Pentonville Prison off Caledonian Road, on December 19, 2014. In June 2016 ...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial