08/06/2026
What an incredibly special day for Aggie's as we celebrated the launch of "Race to the Sailors Rest: A Polly and Hector Adventure", aboard HMS Warrior.
Inspired by the life and legacy of Dame Agnes Weston – "Aggie" to us and "Ma Weston" to generations of sailors – this book has been created to bring families together through the power of storytelling and to ensure her warmth, compassion and spirit continue to inspire future generations.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this day so memorable. To our wonderful author Adam Shackleton, illustrator Jess Dakin and publisher Andy Dakin of the Naval & Military Bible Society, thank you for bringing Polly and Hector's adventure to life with such passion and care.
Thank you to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for hosting us aboard HMS Warrior, the crew of HMS Victory for supporting our family activities, and the Royal Marines School of Music for the fantastic drumming and giving our service pupils the opportunity to take part.
As well as some of our local Service Pupils and partner charities, we were delighted to welcome our Storybook Waves Audio Editors who make so many of our stories come to life, and Rear Admiral Rose, who spoke about the importance of supporting naval families and the enduring impact of Aggie's work.
As we mark our 150th anniversary, this book launch has given us a truly special memory. We hope Race to the Sailors Rest sparks imagination, creates connections and helps keep Ma Weston's remarkable legacy sailing on for many years to come.
