NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 2007 21
Golden times Chiddingfold
at Wildfi re
sets the
NORTHWOOD reserve
unit HMS Wildfi re marked
benchmark
its 50th birthday with pomp,
MINEHUNTER HMS
ceremony and suitable musical
Chiddingfold has notched up a
accompaniment.
series of fi rsts for herself and the
Family, friends, local
mine warfare community over the
dignitaries and top brass, headed
spring and early summer.
by Flag Officer Reserves Rear
She became the first mine
Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt,
counter-measures vessel to go
were invited to ceremonial
through Operational Sea Training
divisions – the very last time
with two vital new pieces of kit.
reservist officers’ distinctive ‘Rs’
WECDIS electronic charts are
were worn on parade.
becoming standard across the RN
Divisions, inspected by
and RFA Fleet – and a welcome
Rear Admiral Johnstone-Burt,
addition they are to the bridge
coincided with awards to some of
team’s inventory.
Wildfire’s top achievers.
“It was certainly different not
But no award was more
having to constantly draw up
heartfelt than the Gloria
Faslane ‘in and out’ charts for
Ademokun Memorial Trophy,
different tides,” said a delighted
presented by her family to the
Lt Si Shaw, Chiddingfold’s
‘top team’ at Wildfire, led by
navigator.
S/Lt Laura Harrison. Gloria was
“All I did was load the route
a hugely-popular member of
from computer each morning.”
Wildfire’s ship’s company whose
WECDIS eases the load on
life was claimed at just 38 by
the navigator; SeaFox makes the
leukaemia.
destruction of mines quicker and
After the formal ceremony and
easier.
VIP reception, it was time for the
SeaFox is being introduced
reservists to let their hair down,
across all Hunt and Sandown-
changing into banyan rig for a
class ships, replacing the existing
barbecue which lasted long into
‘yellow submarines’.
the night.
The black submersible
launches, locates and then
Falklands role
● Happy shower... (l-r) S/Lt Euan Duncan carries the casket bearing the freedom scroll, marching alongside LLOGS(CS) – or leading chef
destroys a suspicious contact
– Chris Ball, and CPO ‘Bungy’ Williams, while PO(D) ‘Eddie’ Edmundson carries the White Ensign as the ship’s company celebrates the
– but also destroys itself in the
freedom of Ledbury in the rain Picture: PO ‘Framps’ Frampton
process.
remembered
Chiddingfold is the first ship to
be tested by the FOST team in
its use of the new weapon – and
CHATHAM Historic Dockyard the ship’s company showed their
honoured the contributions made prowess in using SeaFox by using
by Medway sailors and their
Rain on our parade
it to attack a deep-water contact
supporting civilians during the for the first time.
Falklands confl ict with a veterans’ After receiving the thumbs up
day – 25 years to the day that the CONSISTENT with the rotten summer upon the vessel, despite an association with the previous HMS Ledbury’s exploits (she from FOSTies, the ship bade
fl eet returned to the naval base.
we’ve been enduring, the ship’s
Ledbury going back to 1941 and the previous played key roles in the ill-fated Russian convoy farewell to CO Lt Cdr Andrew
Around 500 former sailors,
company of HMS Ledbury marched
bearer of the name. PQ17 and also the relief operation of Malta, Stacey after 18 months in charge.
soldiers, airmen and dockyard “I’m very proud of my
employees attended a service of
through the streets of their namesake
That was something Mayor Kay Swinburne Pedestal).
put right when she presented the scroll “It’s great to see that the affiliation and ship’s company in the way they
remembrance in the dockyard
market town in a deluge.
of freedom to Ledbury’s CO Lt Cdr Paul the spirit of the townsfolk involved continues have thrown themselves into
church before parading through
And evidently from the smiles on the faces
Russell. to go from strength to strength,” said Lt Cdr challenges, overcoming hurdles
the yard alongside serving
above, they didn’t mind too much.
Having marched through the damp streets, Russell. along the way with cheerfulness
personnel, reservists and cadets,
Roughly one in every eight residents of the
the sailors dried off in the town’s principal AB(MW) Mark Priestman added: “The and hard work,” he said.
to the music of HM Royal Herefordshire town turned out to see the Hunt- church for a service of remembrance, followed reception from the townsfolk was outstanding “Chiddingfold leads the way
Marines Band Portsmouth, who class warship’s crew receive the freedom of the by a reception in the town hall, where they – I felt very proud to be connected with with SeaFox following a lot of
also performed a Beat Retreat. town – an honour surprisingly not bestowed were joined by wartime veterans who recalled Ledbury.” work and training.”
Ne
w f
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