Southampton Salty Sea Dogs: celebrating our maritime heritage

Graham Belton

I am 68 years old and I was born in East Anglia but have lived in Hampshire since I was twelve, so I regard it very much as my home.

I often reflect on the unexpected path that led me to transition from a long career with Hampshire Trading Standards to discovering a passion for singing with one of Southampton’s most unique musical groups. My love for singing was sparked back in 2012, thanks to my colleague and friend, the late Pauline McWilliams. Inspired by Gareth Malone’s TV series The Choir: Sing While You Work, Pauline formed a workplace choir, and what started as an enjoyable end to the working day soon became the perfect way for me to unwind.

When the workplace choir ended in 2013, Pauline invited me to join the Blue Sky Natural Voice Choir in Southampton which she helped to run. As was common in many choirs, men were vastly outnumbered by female singers and Pauline worked tirelessly to encourage greater male participation. Her enthusiasm led to the formation of the Southampton Salty Sea Dogs In 2015, a sea shanty group exclusively for men.

Initially, we were just a small offshoot of the Blue Sky choir. However, as our confidence grew we began rehearsing independently, refining our own style of raw, powerful harmonies delivered without musical accompaniment. Over time, we developed a strong ensemble and now we seem to delight audiences with our authentic take on maritime tradition through song.

In June 2023 Pauline stepped down as musical director due to ill health. Determined to honour her legacy, we established a not-for-profit members’ group and I was proud to be elected as our first chairman, alongside fellow founding member John Bailes, who became our new musical director.

Since then we’ve thrived, growing to over 30 members and performing nearly 50 gigs a year. Our repertoire includes shanties made famous by groups like Fisherman’s Friends, The Longest Johns and Nathan Evans, whose rendition of Wellerman went viral on TikTok, bringing the genre to new audiences. Recently, we’ve also begun learning some original compositions by our own members.

While many know sea shanties for their catchy, repetitive choruses which are perfect for audience participation, we’ve always taken pride in the way we approach our music. We learn all our songs by ear, crafting harmonies organically rather than relying on formal notation. Though we typically perform a cappella, we occasionally incorporate instruments like guitars, banjos and the bodhrán (Irish drum) to add depth when appropriate.

Today we’re an integral part of Southampton’s music scene, regularly performing at local events, care homes, private functions, festivals and charity concerts. Our audiences range across all ages and backgrounds, drawn to the rhythmic, participatory nature of sea shanties. I am convinced Southampton’s deep maritime heritage makes our performances even more meaningful.

We have had the privilege of singing at major events such as the Southampton International Boat Show, Music In The City and aboard the historic SS Shieldhall on a Solent cruise. We’ve also supported charity initiatives hosted by the Lord Mayor of Southampton and the Mayor of Winchester.

One of our proudest moments came in November 2024, when we organised a charity concert in Shirley, raising £2,000 for Mountbatten Hampshire, a cause close to our hearts, as they provided invaluable support to Pauline and her family.

Our 10th anniversary in 2025 is set to be one of our busiest and most exciting years yet. We’ve already performed at two shanty festivals, Tales From The Sea in Gosport and the Yarmouth Sea Songs Festival on the Isle of Wight. Another particularly thrilling event saw us singing aboard the TUI cruise ship Mein Schiff 3 while docked in Southampton, as part of a ‘Sail Away with Sea Shanties’ cruise.

Despite our growth, we’ve never lost sight of what Pauline fostered: support, camaraderie and a passion for singing together. Although we lost Pauline in 2024, her influence continues to shape who we are. As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, we remain dedicated to keeping her spirit alive and ensuring the joy of sea shanties continues to echo through Southampton for years to come. We are therefore absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to be part of the Tapestry Festival in Southampton. We’ll be performing on Sunday 20^th July and we look forward to a rousing reception with plenty of audience participation.