Commemorating 80th Anniversaries on Liverpool’s Floating Grace

Event, General, Serving Personnel, Veterans

This summer in Liverpool, Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity and Greenwich Hospital were proud to support HMS Eaglet Old and Bold Affiliation (OBA) in marking two of the most significant anniversaries in living memory – the 80th anniversaries of VE Day (8 May) and VJ Day (15 August).

With help from a Greenwich hospital RNRMC grant, members gathered aboard Floating Grace – Liverpool’s only floating restaurant – for a three-hour sailing through Royal Albert Dock complex and past HMS Eaglet. The vessel’s warm welcome and striking views provided the perfect setting to reflect, remember, and reconnect.

With OBA members aged between 65 and 85 – many of whom face mobility and financial challenges – RNRMC and Greenwich Hospital funding ensured cost was not a barrier to participation. This vital support meant OBA could bring together shipmates from across Merseyside and beyond, strengthen bonds, and welcome new faces into the community.

The event was steeped in meaning. From the moment OBA stepped aboard, the day unfolded with a carefully prepared order of service, blending commemoration with companionship. Stories of service were shared, the memory of shipmates who had “crossed the bar” was honoured, and widows and widowers were welcomed into the heart of the gathering.  

The event was steeped in meaning, blending commemoration with companionship as stories were shared, shipmates who had “crossed the bar” were honoured, and widows and widowers were warmly welcomed. While OBA’s calendar is filled with service and remembrance, this summer sailing offered a rare chance to pause, enjoy each other’s company, and recognise the dedication of members who give so much to their community. Since its formation in 1989, OBA has been committed to keeping alive the pride, friendships, and traditions formed during service in HMS Eaglet and the wider Royal Navy. By supporting events like this, RNRMC helps ensure that spirit endures – not just in words, but in shared experiences that strengthen ties between generations of the Naval family.

Looking for a grant to support your event? Please head over to our dedicated webpage for more information and to apply: Apply for a grant | The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity

Passengers enjoying a sunny river cruise aboard a decorated boat with Union Jack flags. Group of people enjoying a social gathering on a boat decorated with Union Jack flags. Captain smiling while holding a framed photograph of the HMS Eaglet with maritime flags in the background. A person holding a large flag of HMS Eaglet with the Union Jack and a crest in the centre, inscribed with "Old and Bold Affiliation." A lively gathering of people dining on a riverboat adorned with Union Jack flags, with a person addressing the group. A person in a captain's uniform with a life jacket giving instructions on a boat, with another person seated nearby listening attentively.