With the prospect of a weekend in Gibraltar to look forward to, the ship’s company used the short passage to clean the ship and ensure that everything was up to scratch and ready for Captain’s Rounds. Additionally the opportunity was taken to make preparations for the return to Portsmouth the following week

Once in Gibraltar there was a frenzy of activity to embark final top-up stores, fuel and mail and get the ship looking as good externally as it now did internally.

Throughout the first evening and second day in Gibraltar the ship received the first contingent of Sons and Daughters at Sea (SADAS). Twenty eight family members, ranging in age from 10 to 60 joined the ship to accompany their relatives back to Portsmouth.

Each was accommodated in their father’s, son’s or brother’s messdeck and got a feel for life at sea in HMS Richmond. A number of events took place during the passage including a ‘Jack’ games night in the Warrant Officers’ and Chief Petty Officers’ Mess, an aviation day, departmental acquaints and a whole ship sundowners on the flight deck before witnessing the return to Portsmouth on 1 Aug 03.

On leaving Gibraltar the focus was very much on preparing for the ‘Big Day’, the ship’s homecoming to Portsmouth after more than 6 months away. The day before, the ship made a short stop in Plymouth Sound. The primary reason was to clear customs, but it also allowed a second batch of SADAS to come onboard for the overnight passage to Portsmouth.

Additionally red roses, ordered by members of the ship’s company to hand to their loved ones on the jetty the next day, were brought onboard. As this was most people’s first taste of the UK for some considerable months, it was decided to buy a Cornish pasty or Oggie, as they are affectionately known by the RN, for every member of the ship’s company. These were also delivered in Plymouth Sound and went down very well and very quickly indeed!

Immediately prior to Plymouth, it was time to say goodbye to our aircrew and helicopter for a few months. When not embarked, the ship’s Lynx Mk 8 helicopter is based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset. Shortly before arriving in Plymouth Sound, the helicopter, callsign 474 lifted from the deck and made the relatively short transit back to RNAS Yeovilton.

Onboard were the three aircrew who had been with the ship throughout the deployment and a number of the aircraft’s embarked maintenance staff. The helicopter will return onboard HMS Richmond in early October.

The day of the ship’s return was extremely busy and very emotional. After a night at anchor off Spithead, the day began very early with a team of press visiting the ship and interviewing the Captain, Cdr Wayne Keble. Fifteen minutes of fame was also afforded the Chief Bosun’s Mate, Petty Officer Freddy Fox and Chef Nathan Lord as they were interviewed by Portsmouth TV using the Southsea seafront as a backdrop.

Later in the morning, the ship received a visit from Rear Admiral T P McClement OBE, Chief of Staff (Warfare) and Rear Admiral Surface Ships. The Admiral came onboard primarily to meet the ship’s company and welcome them home personally after a challenging and successful 6 month deployment.

He was also delighted to be able to award the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, for 15 years continuous valuable service in the RN, to Charge Chief Petty Officer Pete Cushing, Chief Petty Officer Gary Southern and Leading Seaman Jason Price.

Finally he was able to present the Harpoon Trophy to HMS Richmond. The Harpoon Trophy is awarded annually to the RN warship which has most successfully fired the Harpoon missile and tested its associated systems.

HMS Richmond conducted these high seas firings in the Autec ranges off Bermuda last year. Whilst the award was received with a tremendous amount of pride, it was also touched with great sadness as we remembered Lieutenants Rod Skidmore and Jenny Lewis who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter accident in June last year.

The award was accepted on behalf of HMS Richmond by Lieutenant Commander Nick Borbone, the Operations Officer and Chief Petty Officer Matt Fisher, the Chief Petty Officer Operations (Missile).

It was soon time to commence the short transit from Spithead to Portsmouth Naval Base and, as the ship steamed passed the familiar Round Tower at Portsmouth, a number of families were present on the harbour wall to wave welcome banners and shout greetings to their loved ones onboard.

In the Naval Base almost 600 family and friends waited to greet the ship as she headed up harbour. Whilst they were waiting, the ship’s helicopter flown by Lieutenants Nigel Willing and John Fitzpatrick gave a display in front of the jetty.

Finally it was time for the ship to come alongside. To the cheers of family and friends and the strains of a Royal Marine Band, the gangway was lowered into position and the ship’s company were able to file ashore, some of them clutching the roses they were able to buy in Plymouth.

Within a very short time, the ship was quiet again as most personnel left for some long awaited post deployment leave.

It is now September and the ship is once again very busy completing a Fleet Time Support Period (FTSP). This involves conducting the maintenance and training which required dockyard assistance and could not therefore be done whilst away from Portsmouth.

Whilst conducting the FTSP, a number of the ship’s company have been busy training for the Portsmouth Area Boxing Tournament which will take place in at HMS Temeraire in mid October.

The focus onboard is now to get ready to go back to sea in late September and make a success of the forthcoming visit to Guernsey for the 60th annual commemoration of the sinking of HMS Charybdis and HMS Limbourne.