Newtownstewart man invites community to discover the remarkable story of Logos Hope

A NEWTOWNSTEWART man who spent almost six years sailing the world on the first Logos ship is encouraging local people to come along to an information evening and discover the remarkable work of the organisation.

Norman Quinn, a former merchant navy radio officer, will be among those helping to explain the work of Logos Hope at a special meeting in Newtownstewart 2000 Centre this Saturday, beginning at 7.30pm.

The evening will feature three speakers who will explain what Logos Hope is all about, the work carried out by its international volunteer crew and how people locally can get involved.

For Norman, the organisation has been part of his life for almost 60 years.

He joined the merchant navy as a radio officer in December 1968, at a time when the role offered the opportunity to travel the world.

“I was there at the best of times because I didn't work in port,” he explained. “I had time off and visited places all over the Pacific, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong.

“It was an ideal time to be a radio officer but that has stopped now because of satellite communication.”

It was while Norman was serving on a merchant ship that his life took an unexpected turn.

His ship called at Calcutta, India, where he encountered members of an organisation who were hoping to use a ship to bring the Gospel and practical help to communities around the world.

“They said if they had a ship they could call to all the big ports all around the world,” Norman recalled.

However, they had a problem, they needed a radio officer who was willing to volunteer his services.

“When they heard I was a radio officer they asked me if I would be interested in joining them and their crew of ten,” he said.

Norman accepted the challenge and, around six months later, joined the ship when it arrived in the UK.

He spent several years working with the organisation before returning to the merchant navy to earn some money, eventually finishing his seafaring career in July 1976.

“I was on the first Logos ship 50 years ago and on it for about six years,” he said.

The ship was essentially a floating book exhibition, bringing books and educational material to communities around the world while its volunteer crew also carried out practical and community work.

Sadly, the original ship eventually met its fate when it ran aground at Tierra del Fuego, at the southern tip of South America.

“Fortunately no one was injured,” Norman said.

Despite leaving the ship, Norman never left the organisation behind and has continued to support its work over the years.

He explained that the name Logos comes from the ancient Greek word used in the Gospel of John for “the Word”, referring to Jesus Christ.

Today, Logos Hope continues that mission on a much larger scale.

Operated by the non-profit organisation GBA Ships, the vessel travels around the world with an international crew of volunteers, bringing books, educational resources, practical assistance and encouragement to communities.

And now Norman is hoping that people from Newtownstewart and the surrounding area will have the opportunity to see the work for themselves.

Logos Hope is returning to Belfast, arriving on October 1 and remaining in the city for approximately four weeks before departing on October 21.

The world's largest floating book fair will open to the public from October 2, with visitors able to step aboard without registering.

The ship carries more than 5,000 affordable book titles covering subjects including science and technology, sport and hobbies, art, cookery, faith, medicine, languages and personal development.

There are also children's books, academic resources, dictionaries and atlases, making the ship an attraction for the whole family.

But Norman stressed that there is much more to Logos Hope than books.

The international crew includes around 60 nationalities, with all crew and staff serving as non-salaried volunteers. Among them are seafarers, engineers, electricians, nurses, teachers and cooks.

When the ship reaches a port, teams also go into surrounding communities to work alongside local organisations, visiting schools, hospitals, orphanages and prisons and becoming involved in practical projects and community care.

Since the ships began operating, millions of people have walked up the gangways, while the vessels have visited more than 150 countries and territories.

Norman is particularly keen for people from Tyrone to take the opportunity to visit when Logos Hope arrives in Belfast.

“I would like people from here to visit the ship when it comes to Belfast and see how things work for themselves,” he said.

He hopes Saturday night's meeting in Newtownstewart will encourage people to find out more about an organisation which has played such an important part in his own life.

And, for Norman, it is an opportunity to share a story which began more than half a century ago when a young merchant navy radio officer stepped ashore in Calcutta -and ended up embarking on a very different kind of voyage.

The Newtownstewart meeting takes place at the Newtownstewart 2000 Centre on Saturday, September 19, at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome.

Logos Hope will be open to visitors in Belfast from October 2. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 10pm and Sundays from 1pm to 10pm. It is closed to the public on Mondays.