| Crew members from HMS Richmond
ended 2003 with flag-flying visits to the north of England.
The Type 23 frigate called into Newcastle-upon-Tyne at the
end of her participation in a Joint Maritime Course in Scotland
to allow crew to visit their namesake town in North Yorkshire,
bolstering interest in the Navy and taking part in Remembrance
ceremonies.
More than 30 crew, including the ship’s guard, headed
to the small market town to attend the armistice commemorations,
laying a wreath to honour war dead and taking the salute from
Richmond’s Mayor Cllr Stuart Parsons.
A smaller contingent from the ship represented the RN in
Newcastle itself.
The visit to Tyneside gave the Navy the chance to raise its
profile and boost recruiting prospects, hosting local Sea
Cadets, Newcastle’s University RN Unit students –
some of whom joined Richmond for the passage back south to
Portsmouth – and a reception for civic leaders.
Students from a local college worked side-by-side with Navy
chefs to prepare food for civic dignitaries as part of an
initiative by the Director of Naval Recruiting to support
‘fast-track’ training for Naval caterers.
Children in Need mascot Pudsey Bear also dropped in, and
collected cash from all the ship’s company.
Back in North Yorkshire, crew took on Richmondshire RUFC
and notched up a respectable ten points against the home team’s
22.
The frigate has also collected the Bulawayo trophy –
presented to the ship or unit which arranges the most impressive
programme of adventurous training.
Despite hectic activity on patrol in the Gulf earlier in
the year, crew managed to arrange widespread sporting fun
during her spell on deployment, including skydiving in Cyprus,
jungle exploration in India and scuba diving in most of Richmond’s
ports of call.
Diving proved especially popular, as 40 crew members –
nearly one quarter of Richmond’s complement –
returned to Britain as qualified open water divers.
The Internet allowed the ship’s fitness champion LPT
Jay Gorton to arrange activities before the frigate reached
her various destinations. |
