Calgo Publications

October 26th 2009 was the 150th Anniversary of the tragedy, and the village of Moelfre held a number of commemorative events.

We were delighted and honoured to meet the descendents of a number of the victims, and to be able to talk to them about their ancestors. It was a very moving, but also uplifting time for us, as we had been immersed in the story and the people of the Royal Charter for 18 months.

Two superb bronze plaques were unveiled, designed by Sam Holland, a sculptor with connections to Moelfre, which depicted both the wreck and Joseph Rogers' heroic swim. Everyone was delighted that a descendent of Joseph Rogers was there, deservedly extremely proud of his ancestor, to witness the event. He also named a boat for the local Rowing Club after this Maltese hero.
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The two bronze plaques by Sam Holland

The heroism of the Moelfre people in risking their lives to save others still goes on, as the current crew of the Moelfre Lifeboat were also there. Unfortunately, the weather was too rough for them to safely demonstrate a rescue by Breeches buoy, but they were called out to to go to the aid of capsized kayakers

A local theatre group The Loose Cannons gave several performances of a play about the wrecking, and there was an excellent concert by local school children and extremely talented local singers, on the Friday evening.

Sunday saw a concert at the Carmel Chapel which also commemorated the sinking of the Hindlea, 100 years after the Royal Charter. The heroism of Coxwain Dick Evans and his Lifeboat crew on that night is chronicled in the SeaWatch Centre in Moelfre.

The Bishop of Bangor lead a service in Llanallgo Church, where so many bodies are buried, on the Sunday morning, which included the laying of a wreath by some of descendents, and the burying of momentoes under a memorial to a victim whose body was never recovered.

A number of stalwart people held a vigil on the cliff top above the wrecksite, on the morning of Monday 26th October from 3-30 a.m., the time the Royal Charter first grounded off the coast.

We visited the site to watch the day-break just before 7-00am.







Although the weekend had been very stormy, and six ships were sheltering in the bay, the morning of 26th October was very calm and peaceful, a complete contrast to 150 years earlier.

About 6-30 a.m.

About 7-40 a.m.