DORSET Council has apologised to the family of a fisherman who was lost at sea for not properly taking care of a memorial bench dedicated to him.

As reported, relatives of Robert Prowse paid tribute to all three fishermen who lost their lives on the 10th anniversary of the Purbeck Isle fishing boat tragedy at Robert's memorial bench on Weymouth harbourside last Tuesday.

People gathered at the quay for a moment of remembrance and reflection ten years to the day the boat was lost.

However, family and friends said they were upset to see the condition of the bench which they said did not look like it had been maintained.

Maintenance of the bench had been the responsibility of the former borough council but was transferred over to Dorset Council.

Dorset Echo: Robert Prowse's family and friends gathered at his memorial bench on the tenth anniversary of the Purbeck Isle sinkingRobert Prowse's family and friends gathered at his memorial bench on the tenth anniversary of the Purbeck Isle sinking

Robert's mum Maxine, who travelled to Weymouth from Plymouth for the anniversary, said she contacted the council twice to see if it could be cleaned before they gathered for the remembrance.

She said: "I'm quite disgusted that they haven't looked after it the way they are supposed to."

The community was rocked after Weymouth fishing boat the Purbeck Isle went out for a day's fishing on May 17, 2012, but never returned.

Following a search the body of skipper David McFarlane, 35, was recovered and the wreck of the vessel was discovered nine miles off Portland Bill.

The body of crewman Jack Craig, 21, was recovered off the coast of Devon on August 9, 2012. However, crewman Robert Prowse, 20, was never found. As a result, Robert's family were unable to have a traditional funeral or burial for him, making the memorial bench particularly important to the family.

Dorset Echo: Robert Prowse bench on Weymouth harbour side in 2013. Children Sinead (left) and Lily Prowse with Maxine and Pete Prowse with (back, right) PE officer from Verne Steve Shayler and Leon. Picture: John Gurd.Robert Prowse bench on Weymouth harbour side in 2013. Children Sinead (left) and Lily Prowse with Maxine and Pete Prowse with (back, right) PE officer from Verne Steve Shayler and Leon. Picture: John Gurd.

The council said the lack of maintenance to the bench was down to the fact that it is a different design to other benches in the area and as a result has fallen outside the council's 'usual maintenance programme'.Dorset Echo: Robert Prowse's family and friends gathered at his memorial bench on the tenth anniversary of the Purbeck Isle sinkingRobert Prowse's family and friends gathered at his memorial bench on the tenth anniversary of the Purbeck Isle sinking

Dorset Echo:  Robert Prowse bench on Weymouth harbour side in 2013. The plaque. Picture: John Gurd. Robert Prowse bench on Weymouth harbour side in 2013. The plaque. Picture: John Gurd.

The memorial bench for Robert, who was born and bred in Weymouth, was made and donated by prisoners at HMP The Verne, who undertook a 24-hour triathlon to raise the money for it in 2013. The bench was placed to overlook the harbour where Robert spent much of his time as an avid fisher who loved being out at sea.

Jamie Joyce, Dorset Council’s Harbour Master for Weymouth, said: “On behalf of Dorset Council, I would like to sincerely apologise to the Prowse family for the current condition of the wooden memorial bench. It was installed back in 2013 by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and is a different design to others in the area, so it has fallen outside the council’s usual maintenance programme.

"Dorset Council is currently in the process of transferring these assets to Weymouth Town Council, so recent requests regarding the benches have been routinely deferred until the transfer is complete. However, upon being contacted by the family we should have been mindful of the anniversary of the tragedy and taken the appropriate steps to ensure the bench was in better condition.

"We’re sorry this didn’t happen and we will work with Weymouth Town Council to make sure the bench is properly maintained in the future.”