Mariners Away Banner

Our banner is a familiar sight wherever Mariners Away perform. It travels with us to festivals, village halls, pubs and community events — marking our presence and giving a sense of who we are before we even begin to sing.

More than just a piece of cloth, the banner has become part of the group’s identity. It represents shared history, shared journeys and the friendships that have grown over the years.

The banner was created by Lauraine, a very talented seamstress and the wife of Steve Mathewson, one of Mariners Away’s founding members. Her craftsmanship and care are stitched into the banner itself, making it a genuine labour of love rather than a piece of stage dressing.

The design reflects our connection to the sea and to the rhythms of life that inspire the songs we sing. When it’s unfurled behind us, it reminds both us and our audiences that Mariners Away are here to create atmosphere, not just perform music.

Wherever we take the banner, we hope it signals warmth, welcome and a touch of maritime spirit — the same qualities we aim to bring to every performance.

Our Song Folders

Lauraine is also responsible for creating the colourful and eye-catching song folders for each member of the crew.

She painstakingly produces the slip covers for the four-ring binders which contain our repertoire of over 200 song sheets which we use at our weekly rehearsal sessions only – they NEVER appear at performances! Lauraine individualises each one by hand embroidering the titles of the shanties which that particular Mariner has adopted as a lead song.

Lauraine… you are an absolute ‘STAR’, thank you!