Anchors Aweigh is a shanty group from North Devon, we sing both traditional shanties, other songs of the sea and a wide variety of folk songs. We are a loose formation of old friends and acquaintances from the Mortehoe and Woolacombe area of North Devon.

Our love of singing has resulted in public performances at many local venues, and others including Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival in 2018, 2019, and 2022. Teignmouth Shanty Festival in 2018, 2019 and 2021, performing at the Par Shanty Festival in Cornwall, and appearing at many Ilfracombe Sea Festivals.

We regularly raise funds for 'local' charities including Devon Air Ambulance, RNLI, and North Devon Hospice and up to the end of 2025 we have contributed over £50,000 to these worthy causes.

We have received over £2000 during our 2026 summer gigs at The Chichester Arms, Mortehoe and a very generous couple have donated a further £5000 directly to North Devon Hospice as a result of watching one of our performances during this period. This brings our total donations to date to over £57,000.

On Saturday, 5th September 2026, our RA (Rear Admiral) Peter Small joined us for his last performance with Anchors Aweigh. He has decided that now is the right time to take his 'retirement' from active gigs but he will remain our contact through the website and email.

THE CREW

PETER SMALL (REAR ADMIRAL) RETIRED

ROBIN HAGLEY (BONEHEAD)

VERNON DAYMAN (CHIEF ENGINEER)

NEIL DRAKE-BROWNING (ASST. ENGINEER)

PETER LITTLE (BOSUN)

JON NEWSOME (CABIN BOY)

DAVE FRYER (COOK)