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

Jonathan R. George

Jonathan R. George

Jonathan Redvers George was born on 27 October 1962. He was the son of Redvers D. George and Lisbeth M. George née Sankey. His birth was registered in the Ealing registration district and electoral...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Ed. Laurence

Ed. Laurence

Role on the lost expedition: Able seaman on SS Terror. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Moses Jethro James

Moses Jethro James

Drowned in the 1898 HMS Albion disaster, aged 14. Buried in grave 2 at the memorial in East London Cemetery.

Person, Children, Tragedy

1 memorial
Lucy Parsons

Lucy Parsons

Labour organizer, anarchist communist. Born Texas or Virginia, as Lucy Eldine Gonzalez, possibly to slaves and had a mixed ancestry. Married Albert Parsons, a white socialist and this interracial m...

Person, Politics & Administration, Tragedy, USA

1 memorial