The ship’s crew from HMS Richmond received the Freedom of Entry to the Borough from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on Sunday 24 November in a colourful ceremony outside York House, the Council’s civic offices in Twickenham.

Over 150 guests attended, including Councillors, MP Vincent Cable, residents from the Royal Star and Garter Home, and representatives from Kneller Hall. The Mayoral Party consisted of Cllr Douglas Orchard (the Mayor), Commander Wayne Keble (the Ship’s Captain), Nigel Clarke (Deputy Lieutenant), the Leader of the Council, Cllr Tony Arbour, and Gillian Norton, Chief Executive of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

After an inspection of the Ship’s Company, Royal Marine Band, Royal Naval Association standard bearers and the Sea Cadets by the Mayor and the Ship’s Captain, the Chief Executive read out the official declaration of Freedom of Entry. The Mayor presented the scroll to the Ship’s Captain, followed by the uncasing of the colours. Formal permission was then requested by the Parade Captain for the Ship’s Company to exercise their rights to march through the streets of Twickenham. Led by the Royal Marine Band, they were joined in the march by representatives of the Royal Naval Association.

The Mayor and Commander Keble, attended by the Deputy Lieutenant and the Macebearer, took the salute in King Street before the march ended at St Mary’s Church on Church Street for a special service of Thanksgiving.

Commander Keble, the Ship’s Captain, noted how much the Ship’s Company enjoyed the event. He said: “It was an enormous privilege for the Ship’s Company of HMS Richmond to be granted the Freedom of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, and to take part in the ceremony, including marching through the streets of Twickenham with bayonets fixed, swords drawn, and band playing. It was wonderful to see the public welcoming us with applause en route. It is very rare that we get the opportunity to put on our full regalia and march through the streets, and the Ship’s Company thoroughly enjoyed doing this.”

Cllr Tony Arbour, Leader of the Council commented: ”I was proud to officially welcome and honour the crew of HMS Richmond in this way. This civic and naval ceremony, demonstrated Richmond’s pride in our borough and ‘our’ ship. It was wonderful to be able to celebrate our freedoms by granting the Freedom of the Borough to those who keep us free.”

In addition to receiving the freedom of the borough RICHMOND conducted Ship open to Visitors on the Friday the 22 November in conjunction with the director naval recruiting. During the weekend the ship was a venue for many organised school tours and a children’s party was held for local school children. The Monday of the visit saw the ship host a lunch by the 1st Sea Lord and 10 members of the national press.

A busy weekend for RICHMOND that enabled her to make new friends and renew old acquaintances. The ship is due to be alongside for Christmas prior to undertaking an AMP in January in preparation for deploying to the Persian Gulf in February 2003.