With RFA Mounts Bay, RFA Argus, HMS Tamar and HMS Scott in port over Easter, along with the Range Safety vessel Smit Yare the Falmouth branch of the Mission to Seafarers charity which is run by the chair Penny Phillips and her partner Graham Hall swung into action to deliver 230 Easter eggs to the ships.

Penny said: “It is a way of saying ‘thank you’ for all that the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary do to defend our nation and UK interests. It is recognised that time spent away from family and loved ones can be difficult, especially at significant times such as Easter and Christmas."

With the help of the RNO Lt Cdr Trevor Brookes, who organised the ship visits, Penny and Graham handed out the Easter eggs to the various crews.

Last Christmas the Falmouth branch supplied over 300 presents to ships in port.

In 2018 Penny was awarded the BEM for her work with the charity. Her citation read: “Through her energy and tenacity, she has expanded the Mission’s facilities to include a newly equipped centre and garden and increased its team of volunteers.

"Penny is tireless in her efforts to resolve issues for seafarers in need and her intervention has secured improved working conditions and wages for many individuals. Her work has been recognised by the emergency services, shipowners, the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, insurance underwriters and the local community."

Graham Hall is a recipient of the Queen’s Merchant Navy medal awarded in 2014 for meritorious service in the field of seafarers’ welfare.

The Merchant Navy Medal provides an opportunity for the industry to recognise in a worthy and public manner, meritorious service by British Merchant Seafarers.

The work of the Mission to Seafarers goes on all year as the organisation looks after nearly 1.5 million men and women worldwide. The past year has seen the charity help many distressed seamen marooned on ships around the globe as a result of the pandemic.