A WEST End performer sang at a care home to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Weymouth and Portland Merchant Navy Association.

Leah Harris, who has appeared in numerous shows including Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella, 42nd Street and Sir Trevor Nunn's new musical The Third Man, was invited to perform at Weymouth Manor Care Home where residents, along with veterans, friends, and family, gathered for an afternoon party.

One of the residents, Tony Cash - who has just turned 100 - is a founding member of Weymouth and Portland Merchant Navy Association, and helped to co-host the event.

He served in the Merchant Navy until the 1980s. Mr Cash also served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and was at the Battle of the Atlantic; he was honoured by Princess Anne for his service at the British Royal Legion’s Festival of Remembrance in November.

Dorset Echo:

The aim of the association is to join past and serving seafarers together for camaraderie, their families and associated services, with those who have a common bond with the sea. 

Speaking about setting up the association, Mr Cash said: “I was shopping in Sainsbury’s wearing my Merchant Navy veterans’ badge when I was approached by the late Captain Paul Compton MNM.

“He said that Weymouth and Portland were the only port without a Merchant Navy Veterans Association and that he would like to start one and would I help him.

“I said of course, from then on we met on Thursdays at Royal Dorset Yacht Club it went on from there, gathering people from Portland, Weymouth and the rest of Dorset we soon amounted to nearly 100 members."

Mr Cash also had the opportunity to catch up with his long-term friend John Bowditch, a former shipmate from Sarnia days in the 1970s.

Fellow care home resident John Moore, another veteran, also attended the party with friends and family.

Esther Sheppard, Contact Manager at the care home, said: "It was a fantastic afternoon with the residents and the Merchant Navy coming together. The entertainment we arranged from Leah Harris was incredible everyone was very moved by her singing talents.

Dorset Echo:

"We are extremely lucky that Leah will return on the 23rd of December to entertain the residents."

David Knight, Chairman of the Weymouth and Portland Merchant Navy Association, added: "I continue my thanks and praise for those at Weymouth Manor for their care and attention shown to Tony, his family, and our members; they have become our family.

"We all had a brilliant afternoon and were looking forward to planning more events with Weymouth Manor in the future as Esther and the home help us raise awareness of the Weymouth and Portland Merchant Navy."