Text of the speech given on Saturday 21st February 2026 at the Spring Festival celebration at the Chinese Embassy to commemorate the Lisbon Maru and Chinese UK friendship, to which the Lisbon Maru Memorial Association LiMMA were invited by H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang and Madam Hua Mei.

Good afternoon everyone

Firstly, thank you to the Embassy and ambassador Zheng for hosting this event again this year. It means a great deal to the families, and we are sincerely grateful for your continued support.

My name is Anthony Jones, and when I spoke here last year as Chairman of LiMMA the Lisbon Maru Memorial Association, it marked a moment of transition. Brian Finch, who for many years carried the responsibility of being the main point of contact for families, passed that responsibility to us LiMMA. We understood immediately that this was not simply about organising events. It was about stewardship about carrying forward the story of the men of the Lisbon Maru with care, accuracy and respect.

In my speech last year, I said that LiMMA's mission was to organise the memorial service on 2 October at the National Memorial Arboretum.

We did that.

For the first time, members of the Embassy attended for which we are very grateful and we were also honoured to welcome Miss Ling from China, who poured seawater from Dongji Island in front of the memorial as an act of respect. The reception afterwards was a meaningful occasion, where the friendships among the relatives continued to grow.

I also said last year that we would be launching a website, which was being created by Trisha and Alan Wooding.

We have (they have) and it is remarkable.

It has become a true centre point for families and for anyone with an interest in the Lisbon Maru. Trisha and Alan, alongside Ken and Paul Williams from the steering group, have invested an enormous amount of time and care into building something informative, respectful and accessible. It now attracts more than 200 visits every single day from around the world. That tells us something important: this story is no longer hidden.

But that was not all we've done. In May, some members of LiMMA, supported by the Embassy, travelled to Dongji Island for the unveiling of the memorial. There, families honoured their relatives and paid tribute to the courageous Chinese fishermen who risked their lives to save men from the Lisbon Maru a story of humanity amid tragedy that still resonates today.

In August, members attended the 85th VJ Day commemorations at the National Memorial Arboretum, and in November, families marched past The Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday for the first time a long overdue moment of acknowledgement for those who suffered on board.

Members have also shared their relatives' stories on local television, and the tragedy has been raised in Parliament, reflecting a growing national awareness.

As recently as 2018, before Brian and Fang Li began their research on the documentary, only a handful of people had even heard of the Lisbon Maru. Today, families are coming forward, researchers are engaging, and awareness is continuing to grow.

Though none of this happens by chance.

Our steering group, taking on the work that Brian expertly started, works exceptionally hard behind the scenes. We meet regularly and ensure everything we do reflects the wishes of the relatives, you. This is sustained, detailed and sometimes emotional work.

All ten members of the steering group are volunteers. Each with their own busy lives. Yet they give their time freely and consistently because they believe this story matters.

As we have listened to families, two clear principles are helping to guide everything we do.

First, we are committed to honouring all 1,816 men who were on board. Not just a few. Not just the familiar stories. Every man endured suffering. Every man deserves to be remembered.

Which brings us on to our second point. We honour those who died and those who survived equally. Survival did not mean the end of hardship, and death must never mean being forgotten. Remembrance should never be selective.

I would like to just take a moment to pay tribute and acknowledge the steering group by name, most of whom are here today:

• Rob Golding Treasurer
• Gerry Borge Vice Chairman
• Mandy Stubbs Membership Secretary
• Geoff Haviland Committee Advisor
• Paul Williams Education/Presentation Secretary
• Ken Williams Archivist
• Leigh Gray Events Secretary
• Jean Clements General Secretary
• Alan and Trish our webmasters

Every one of them had a relative on board. I am proud to stand alongside them, and I know they work tirelessly on behalf of all the families aboard the Lisbon Maru.

Looking ahead, we will continue to develop the annual memorial service, continue working with the British Legion for future events and continue with educational and local presentations about the tragedy. We are also working with Kent Shum, Brian and the people from Zhoushan to explore ways to make visits to Dongji Island more accessible for LiMMA members in the future. So watch this space.

Finally, the story of the Lisbon Maru is being heard more widely than ever before. For many years it was a quiet history, known only to a few. Today, it is receiving the attention and understanding it has long deserved.

On your behalf LiMMA will continue to tell these stories carefully and truthfully, and to ensure that each of the 1,816 men are remembered not simply as a number, but as a son, a husband, a father, a brother.

That is our commitment to you, and to them.

Thank you.