Latest news with #JamesMessham
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Tribute paid to 'family man' who died on cruise
The family of a man whose death on a cruise ship sparked a police investigation have said he had "a heart of gold". James Messham, from Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex, was reported dead about two-and-a-half hours after MSC Virtuosa departed Southampton on 3 May. In a tribute to the 60-year-old his family said they are "heartbroken" and struggling with "unanswered" questions. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary arrested a 56-year-old man from Richmond, London, on Sunday on suspicion of manslaughter. He was the second man to be arrested in relation to the death, after a 57-year-old man from Exeter, Devon, who was arrested on suspicion of murder on 5 May was released on bail. The vessel left Southampton at 18:00 BST for a two-night voyage to Bruges, Belgium, returning at 06:00 on Monday 5 May. The police have said they wanted to hear from anyone who was aboard the ship. The family of Mr Messham have issued a statement for their loved one. They said: "James was a loving father to 8 children the youngest being only 10 years old. The unbreakable bond between us will never be forgotten. He was a family man. "He was there for us all daily. He also had 10 grandchildren that he doted on. He will be very dearly missed by so many people. He had a heart of gold and would do anything to help anyone. "Our lives will never be the same without him. His wife and all us children and grandchildren are heartbroken. All of us are struggling with so many unanswered questions in relation to what happened that night aboard MSC Virtousa." His eldest daughter Charmaine Messham described her father as a "businessman" who turned his hand to many trades to provide for his family, most notable was his work as a wall of death showman for a fairground. "He was born a showman from the fairground. He travelled with a wall of death show all over the world. The show has been in the Messham family for 5 generations." The wall of death is a carnival sideshow featuring a wooden cylinder, which typically sees motorcyclists travel along the vertical wall and perform stunts. Ms Messham said her father had a "cheeky" sense of humour and that he "taught all of his children everything we know". "He was a fantastic role model," she said. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Second arrest in cruise ship death investigation Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary
BBC News
16-05-2025
- BBC News
Tribute paid to 'family man' who died on MSC Virtuosa cruise ship
The family of a man whose death on a cruise ship sparked a police investigation have said he had "a heart of gold".James Messham, from Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex, was reported dead about two-and-a-half hours after MSC Virtuosa departed Southampton on 3 a tribute to the 60-year-old his family said they are "heartbroken" and struggling with "unanswered" and Isle of Wight Constabulary arrested a 56-year-old man from Richmond, London, on Sunday on suspicion of manslaughter. He was the second man to be arrested in relation to the death, after a 57-year-old man from Exeter, Devon, who was arrested on suspicion of murder on 5 May was released on vessel left Southampton at 18:00 BST for a two-night voyage to Bruges, Belgium, returning at 06:00 on Monday 5 police have said they wanted to hear from anyone who was aboard the family of Mr Messham have issued a statement for their loved said: "James was a loving father to 8 children the youngest being only 10 years old. The unbreakable bond between us will never be forgotten. He was a family man. "He was there for us all daily. He also had 10 grandchildren that he doted on. He will be very dearly missed by so many people. He had a heart of gold and would do anything to help anyone. "Our lives will never be the same without him. His wife and all us children and grandchildren are heartbroken. All of us are struggling with so many unanswered questions in relation to what happened that night aboard MSC Virtousa." His eldest daughter Charmaine Messham described her father as a "businessman" who turned his hand to many trades to provide for his family, most notable was his work as a wall of death showman for a fairground."He was born a showman from the fairground. He travelled with a wall of death show all over the world. The show has been in the Messham family for 5 generations."The wall of death is a carnival sideshow featuring a wooden cylinder, which typically sees motorcyclists travel along the vertical wall and perform Messham said her father had a "cheeky" sense of humour and that he "taught all of his children everything we know". "He was a fantastic role model," she said. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Luxury cruise passengers seen partying hours before grandad died on stag do
A man has been released on bail on suspicion of manslaughter after grandad James Messham died on the cruise to Belgium - shocked tourists say they had no idea a passenger had died New footage shows crowds partying on a luxury cruise liner just hours before a grandfather was 'killed on a stag do' aboard the ship - and passengers say they were never told of the death. James Messham, from West Sussex, was reported dead two-and-a-half hours after the MSC Virtuosa departed from Southampton on Saturday, May 3. A 56-year-old man from Richmond, London, has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, according to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. Shocked tourists on the cruise have described the hours before and after his death. A passenger on board a cruise ship where a man is suspected to have been murdered has described the behaviour of other guests as 'carnage'. The 21-year-old, who does not want to be named, but who we will call Claire, told The Mirror that fighting began as soon as she boarded the MSC Virtuosa ship with her boyfriend who was celebrating his birthday. And she claims it continued throughout the two day return cruise from Southampton to Belgium. She told The Mirror: 'It was full of stag and hen do's that just made the boat really rowdy. We got on the boat the first day about 2pm and it was all sunny and we went to the pool but you could already see fights breaking out. 'We got to the pool about 3pm and people who were already on the boat were in drunken arguments and scraps. We were sat quite far back and all of a sudden you would hear cheering and chanting and you would look over and see people fighting. 'The bar staff were still serving people to the point they were paralytically drunk, it was just carnage.' A 57-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of murder of a 60-year-old passenger James Messham. Tragic James, who has been described as a 'lovely' grandfather ran a motorcycle stunt show and was reportedly on a stag do when he was killed in an 'altercation'. Mr Messham is understood to have been travelling with relatives who helped him run popular motorbike stunt show the Wall of Death. Joby Carter described him as a 'proper gent' who was part of Carter's Steam Fair until around eight years ago. He said: 'I was absolutely gutted when I heard the news. He was a legend. 'We used to travel Carter's Steam Fair. He approached us because he had a wall of death and wanted to travel with us. 'We always got along with him. He was a proper gent, salt of the earth. 'You knew if you had a problem he would come and help you any time day or night. The incident happened just two hours after the ship left port but according to Claire passengers were not informed anything had happened. She said: ''It is just so strange to us. They had a body and the murder suspect on the boat for two days and did not tell us a thing, we were only two and a half hours away from Southampton when it happened, why didn't we just turn back and get them off? 'It is so unnerving to know we spent the entire voyage with both those people still onboard.' Mr Messham's death was the second tragedy onboard MSC Virtuosa in a matter of months. Colombian national Jessica Andrea Gómez Granda, 28, died after falling overboard near the Channel Islands in October. The ship is used to film Channel 5 drama The Good Ship Murder starring X Factor winner Shayne Ward. An MSC spokesperson said: 'Following an incident on board our ship, the relevant authorities were contacted, and we are cooperating fully with their investigations. We are providing full support to those impacted and thoughts are with the family and friends at this difficult time.'
BBC News
12-05-2025
- BBC News
Second man held over MSC Virtuosa cruise ship death released
A man, the second to be arrested in connection with the death of a 60-year-old man on board a cruise ship, has been released on police Messham, from Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, died following an altercation on the MSC Virtuosa at about 20:30 BST on 3 ship was about two-and-a-half hours into a two-night voyage from Southampton to Bruges, said a 56-year-old man from Richmond, London, arrested on suspicion of manslaughter at the weekend had been released on bail while the investigation continued. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary previously arrested a 57-year-old man on suspicion of man from Exeter, Devon was released on bail on Tuesday force said they still wanted to hear from anyone who was aboard the vessel left Southampton at 18:00 for a two-night voyage to Bruges, Belgium, returning at 06:00 on MSC Virtuosa is operated by MSC Cruises and has capacity for 6,334 Cruises previously said: "Following an incident on board our ship, the relevant authorities were contacted and we are cooperating fully with their investigations."We are providing full support to those impacted and thoughts are with the family and friends at this difficult time." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Times
12-05-2025
- Times
Second man arrested over MSC Virtuosa cruise ship death
A second man has been arrested in connection with the death of a 60-year-old grandfather on board a cruise ship. James Messham, from Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, died after an 'altercation' on the MSC Virtuosa as it was in British waters on Saturday May 3, during a short trip to Belgium. A 57-year-old man from Exeter, Devon, was arrested on suspicion of murder and was released pending further inquiries by Hampshire constabulary. Now the force has confirmed that a second man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. A spokesman said: 'A second man has been arrested as part of an investigation into the death of a 60-year-old man on board the MSC Virtuosa, which happened at around 8.30pm on Saturday 3 May. 'A 56-year-old
