John Williams was a missionary, and in 1817 he set off to the islands in the South Pacific with his wife Mary to take the Christian message to the people there.

John and Mary had a very exciting and fascinating time, but their mission was full of danger and some of the people they met were very hostile. John wrote all about his time on the island in letters and journals, but eventually, in 1839, he was murdered.

In 1936 the London Missionary Society invited children all over the country to save their money and contribute to buying a ship in John's memory, so that his work could continue.

Several ships were bought in this way, and PILOTS came into being.