The St Finbarr H308 on fire and under tow by the Orsino H410, in the north western Atlantic off Labrador. Deep Sea Fisherman' who work tirelessly on behalf of trawlermen and their families, doing a very difficult job. Their work is greatly appreciated by many, myself included who have had a visit from the Superintendent at times of distress and sorrow. There follows an extract from the book 'Fish and Ships' by Stanley Pritchard concerning the loss of the St Finnbar. The number of visits to the homes of bereaved relatives, and the amount of time this can take, eats into the busy life of' a Mission Centre.
Disaster is always unexpected.
No one can plan around the extra duties that it lays on a superintendent and his staff, especially if there is a constant flow of traffic through the Centre daily. And yet it is perhaps the most vital part of his work. In the normal daily round he cares for the bodily welfare and comfort of those who use the Mission. But he is first and foremost a man with a heart for others. His task is to be with people when they need him most, and his reward is in their trust, and in the knowledge that they need him, and turn naturally to him in their time of trouble.