The youngest frigate in the Fleet eased through the Thames Barrier to pay her first visit to London and host citizens of her namesake town.

HMS St Albans – The Saint – made the most of her spell in West India Docks, near the Canary Wharf development, to cement links with the Hertfordshire city which have been strengthening since the ship was launched four years ago.

The Type 23 vessel hosted a reception for 140 dignitaries, community leaders and affiliate organisations and personalities, including First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Alan West, and the ship’s company opened the ship to visitors, including schools and guests from St Albans.

Those sailors not hosting visitors had a number of other distractions, including sports fixtures and a community project.

Teams from the ship took on local sides at football, rugby, golf and netball, while their shipmates headed to the Emmaus Project in St Albans, which helps homeless people re-establish themselves into society.

The sailors laid a new patio area for centre users, a project paid for by the ship through fund-raising events aboard.

The highlight of the visit to the two cities was the granting of the Freedom of St Albans as 200 officers and ratings paraded through the Hertfordshire streets, where Commanding Officer Cdr Mark Knibbs and Lord Mayor Cllr Gordon Myland took the salute and the band of the Royal Yeomanry provided musical accompaniment.

It was also a chance for two sailors to get home. The families of OM(C) Kerry-Anne Parsons and MEM David Cantrill both hail from St Albans and watched as their loved ones marched through the streets.

“It was a busy but a most rewarding visit for the ship. I hope that people know a little more about our treasured affiliation,” said Cdr Knibbs.

“We made some strong and lasting ties, bringing the ship, our sailors and the people of St Albans closer together.”

Cllr Myland added: “Everyone has enjoyed a right royal mix of activities. Our thanks to Cdr Knibbs and his crew for a most memorable visit.”
St Albans recently completed her first tour of duty, a seven-month spell in the Gulf region supporting the global war on terror, during which time she served as a task force flagship.