THE principal event north of the border thrusting to the RN into the public eye is being postponed for 12 months while bosses revamp it.

Faslane Fair at Helensburgh is the showpiece event for the men and women of nearby HM Naval Base Clyde, drawing thousands of people to the seafront to witness the RN in action.

The show has typically coincided with a Joint Maritime Course (now renamed Neptune Warrior) run at the base – which normally involves a substantial gathering of British and foreign warships.

But with the dates of the exercise now shifted from June to April or September, naval base bosses decided it was worth looking again not just at the timing of the fair, but also at the event as a whole – and how to revamp it.

Last summer’s fair drew 20,000 visitors and raised upwards of £30,000 for a ‘sunshine’ bus for local youngsters with disabilities.

Naval base commander Cdre Carolyn Stait said she understood the disappointment at postponing this year’s fair, but added that it was time to bring the event “bang up to date”.

She added: “The fair has run with the same format for many years, but this year scheduling difficulties have prompted us to sit down and focus on how we might like to reshape the fair for the future.

“Faslane Fair has a great history and always raises huge amounts of money for its chosen charities, and lets the public see first-hand the strength of the RN.”