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 reported 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

Philip Matthew Beer

Philip Matthew Beer

Philip Matthew Beer was born on 27 February 1983 in Barnet the youngest of the three children of Philip C. Beer and Kim Lilian Beer née Richardson (1958-2019). His two sisters were Michelle Linda B...

Person, Tragedy

3 memorials
Alexandre Pigeard

Alexandre Pigeard

Killed in the 2017 London Bridge attack. Aged 27, he was working as a waiter at the Boro Bistro.

Person, Tragedy, France

1 memorial
David Graham Foulkes

David Graham Foulkes

David Graham Foulkes was born on 27 March 1983 in Oldham, Lancashire, the son of Graham Foulkes and Janet Foulkes née Wrigley. Electoral registers from 2004 to 2005 show him listed at 5 North Nook,...

Person, Tragedy

2 memorials
Robyn Gai Webster

Robyn Gai Webster

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

James Bradley Chamberlain

James Bradley Chamberlain

Andrew Behan has kindly researched this frequenter of the Old Bailey: James Bradley Chamberlain was born on 30 June 1795 in Warwick, Warwickshire. He was the eldest son and the second of the five c...

Person, Friend / family

1 memorial