DESTROYER HMS Gloucester played the leading role in an international maritime defence exercise when she arrived in Singapore during a seven-month deployment the Far East.

The ship, which left her home port of Portsmouth on March 19, was taking part in the exercise under the Five Powers Defence Arrangement with Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.

Britain has long-standing historic, trade and cultural ties with many countries in the region and the destroyer was working alongside the navy and air forces of Australia, Malaysia and Singapore to test the integrated air defence system which protects the Malaysian peninsula.

A torrential rainstorm greeted the ship as she arrived in Singapore to take on stores and attend pre-exercise briefings but the visit gave the ship's company the chance to revisit many famous old haunts in 'Singers' such as Raffles and The Terror club which was a firm favourite.

It was also a homecoming for HMS Gloucester's OM(AW) Paul Tebbit who was born at Queen Alexandra British Military Hospital in Singapore as his father, Leading Seaman David Tebbit, was serving with the Royal Navy in the former colony at the time.

During their stay the ship was alongside in the new deep water base at Changi and more than 3,000 visitors were welcomed on board during Singapore Navy Days and International Maritime Defence Exhibition.

One of HMS Gloucester's duties during the deployment is to assist with British defence export sales and the ship gave guided-tours to many high powered delegations.

VIP visitors included Dr Tony Tan, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Chief of Defence Procurement, Sir Robert Walmlsey, Military Deputy to the Head of Defence Export Sales, Rear Admiral John Tolhurst, and the wardroom accompanied the outgoing Vice Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Peter Abbott, on his last run ashore in Singapore before leaving the Service.

After leaving Singapore, the ship continued in her defence diplomacy role with visits to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, the island of Labuan and to Brunei.

The next leg of HMS Gloucester's voyage will take her to Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, and back across the Indian Ocean for the African leg of her deployment where visits are planned at Mombassa, Dar-es-Salaam, Maputo, the Seychelles, Durban and Mauritius.

After a short visit to Diego Garcia and a stand-off in Penang, the ship will take part in one final Five Powers Defence Arrangement exercise before the long haul back home.

The Gloucester's CO, Cdr David Heley, said: "Following the ship's deployment to the Arabian Gulf last year and a series of subsequent NATO exercises, we have deployed to the Far East confident in our ability to handle the wide-ranging tasks and missions that fall to a modern-day Royal Navy escort such as HMS Gloucester.

"The ship's company is looking forward to the numerous visits to come, in particular the stand-off in Penang when we have the opportunity for our families to fly out and visit us."

Lt Cdr Steve Morgan, the WEO of HMS Gloucester, added: "After a hard autumn and winter exercising and training in very rough weather in and around the UK everyone on board is thoroughly enjoyng the benefits of the tropical weather and looking forward to the adventure ahead."

As well as the many exciting port visits ahead, members of the ship's company are planning to climb Mt Kinabalu in Sabah and Mt Kilimanjaro in East Africa, go diving in the Red and South China Seas, undertake jungle training with the Gurkhas and they will be making the most of their opportunities for sailing, golf, rugby and soccer!

On the way out to the Far East HMS Gloucester called at Kochi in India where an Indian elephant and a brass band from the Royal Indian Navy were on the jetty to welcome her.

The traditional Kerala greeting was made all-the-more special by children from St Joseph's Roman Catholic Orphanage in Kochi (formerly known as Cochin) who waved Union Flags as the ship came alongside.

And as HMS Gloucester's Commanding Officer, Cdr David Heley, stepped over the gangway he was welcomed with a garland of flowers.

During the visit, 23 members of the ship's company volunteered to give up their free time to help paint the sleeping room at St Joseph's Orphanage.

The work was completed despite the blistering heat and the children showed their appreciation by singing a song of thanks to the volunteers.

On the Sunday, HMS Gloucester's Roman Catholic Chaplain, Father David MacLean, held a service for the ship's company and guests under the focs'le awning when the sermon was read by Father Joe Louvan, an American missionary working in Kochi.