A REMEMBERANCE service will be held next July to remember the 15 people, including four children, who drowned in a boat tragedy in Penmaenpool 50 years ago.

The victims drowned after The Prince of Wales ferry hit the toll bridge as it was nearing the end of its pleasure trip from Barmouth on 22 July 1966.

Thirty-nine people were on board the ferry for the eight-mile trip but as the skipper tried to manoeuvre the boat to the hotel jetty, the vessel was washed into the wooden toll bridge and sank.

The passengers were thrown into the fast-running incoming tide.

A remembrance service was held to remember the victims 40 years on in 2006.

Dolgellau Town Council announced it would hold an official 50th Remembrance Service at 11.50am on 22 July 2006 to mark the tragedy.

The town council is also to set up a memorial fund to raise money for a permanent memorial near the site, not only to remember the 15 people who drowned, but also the brave efforts of local people at the time who managed to save over 25 tourists.

This comes after calls from Peter Watts, who lost his mother and father, nine-year-old sister and brother, 10, in the tragedy, to place a memorial on the site.

Mr Watts said he welcomed the news this week.

A meeting will now be arranged with Barmouth Town Council and the local clergy to arrange the event that will coincide with the time that the boat hit the wooden toll bridge at Penmaenpool and sank.

Cllr John Raghoobar of Dolgellau Town Council said he and his fellow members will be discussing the arrangements for the remembrance service over the next few months.

He said: “The town council fully support a remembrance service to be held in the 50th year of the Penmaenpool tragedy.

“We will be working alongside Barmouth Town Council and will be discussing the arrangements over the next few months.”