When a plaque bearing an anchor and the name HMS Pearl was discovered stored away in Burnley Borough Council property a treasure trove was uncovered with it. Not only did the plaque mean a flood of golden memories for the people who helped adopt the ship in 1942 it brought about a reunion of the men who served on her. In warship week 1942 the good people of Padiham joined the savings drive to finance the war effort by purchasing a fighting ship. The vessel assigned to the area was the mighty little trawler HMS Pearl with its 50 strong crew of valiant men.
Well armed but cramped for room the ship escorted the coal shipments between Barry Island and the Welsh coal fields to power stations around Britain. It was tough territory for the little coal burning gem. A plaque to commemorate Padiham's interest in the ship was put up in the town hall and for many it signified the effort and time that went into the war cause in this area. Padiham Urban District Council was amalgamated with Burnley in 1974 and the plaque was taken down while redecoration was undertaken and until recently it was forgotten and discarded. The brave little ship that the plaque commemorated had received a change of name and a new job at the end of her active duty. In 1946 HMS Pearl became Westella and was sold as a fishing trawler in Hull. The trawler was finally broken up in Ghent Belgium in 1959. The rediscovery of the plaque and the decision to reinstate it in the Town Hall led to a reunion of men who will never forget the Pearl. Harry Greenwood of the Burnley and Pendle Ex Naval Servicemen's Association placed an advert in a naval magazine inviting former crewmen to attend the rededication ceremony. The response was more poignant than he imagined. He managed to reunite men who had forged relationships in the furnace of war and who had not met for 40 years in some cases. Seven of the men have now accepted the invitation to the rededication ceremony on the 17th of January. One man Harry Price Williams 67 journeyed from Hope Wrexham to tell Mr Greenwood face-to-face how grateful he is for the chance to see his old shipmates. The reunion has stirred interest in local newspapers elsewhere in the country. One ex Pearl crewman was featured in an Alnwick newspaper because of his forthcoming trip down memory lane at the rededication ceremony.

Follow up story BE87ng01051987-Missing skipper is tracked down

When Padiham staged a reunion of the shipmates from HMS Pearl the town's adopted the second world war ship one important man was missing. That has now been rectified as the skipper of the brave little trawler, sub lieutenant Jack Armitage has been tracked down. Mr Armitage missed the reunion to Berkeley rededication but recently visited Padiham to see the plaques and photographs. The visit brought a rush of memories to Mr Armitage.
He recalled the kindness of Padiham people in sending gifts to the crew of the Pearl during the war.
He said knitted gloves and scarves were most welcome.

Mr Armitage treasures a cutting from the Padiham advertiser which describes the first visit to Padiham and the cheers he received as he accepted the plaque.