THE people of Derby like their submarines… and now they have a new one under their wing.

Just six months after losing its ties with HMS Sovereign, the hunter-killer boat which was affiliated with the East Midlands city, Derby has forged new ones with HMS Ambush, the second of the next-generation Astute-class submarines.

Ambush won’t be in service until around 2010 – she’s taking shape alongside her older sister Astute in the gigantic ship hall at BAE Systems’ Barrow yard – but civic leaders were keen to grab the new submarine before anyone else did.

The city is home to Rolls-Royce… the firm which provides Britain’s nuclear submarines with their propulsion system, so it only seemed right that Derby persisted with its links with the Silent Service.

The city bestowed the freedom of Derby upon the RN Submarine Service in 2002 and enjoyed a 33-year affiliation with HMS Sovereign, an affiliation which ended with a farewell formal civic dinner for the ship’s company last autumn to mark the boat’s decommissioning.

Flag Officer Scotland Northern England and Northern Ireland, Rear Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt, officially informed Derby folk of the new affiliation, an affiliation which was celebrated at the city’s council house by a ceremony involving Sea Cadets, veteran deeps, serving sailors, Rolls-Royce employees and civic dignitaries.

“I’m proud that the nation’s most inland city can boast such a healthy naval relationship,” said Derby’s Mayor Cllr John Ahern.

“From the very first submarine to every current vessel, there is a Derby connection.”