28 NAVY NEWS, MAY 2007
Civic centre of attention
O
NE of the last acts by the men and women of
HMS Gloucester before the destroyer receives a
£6m overhaul was also an enjoyable one.
The crew of the Fighting G HMS Gloucester has enjoyed
exercised their long-standing right the freedom of her namesake city
to march through the historic city, for some years.
their swords drawn, their bayonets Not so little HMS Quorn.
fixed, their colours flying. Despite being around for nearly
They did so on a chilly February two decades (and having a proud
Sunday watched by a sizeable history in WW2), the minehunter
number of cityfolk, who also and her crew enjoyed no such
attended a memorial service in
distinction... until the good folk
honour of the ship and those who
of Melton Mowbray bestowed the
have served in her in Gloucester
title upon them.
Cathedral, where the ship’s padre
Accompanied by the Band of
Rev Andy Duff and the ship’s
HM Royal Marines Plymouth, the
Commanding Officer Cdr Mike
ship’s company left Portsmouth
Paterson gave readings.
behind and headed to the land of
Cdr Paterson’s ship has been
pork pies to receive the highest
heavily in demand in the past
honour the borough of Melton
year.
Mowbray can bestow.
She played a key role in the
The ship takes her name from
evacuation of civilians from
the Quorn hunt, which is based
Lebanon last summer as war
in the market town – hence the
threatened to engulf the Levant.
affiliation with Melton rather than
More recently, she was back in
the village of Quorn itself.
the Med for a brief deployment
Townsfolk braved a bitterly-
over Christmas and the New Year
cold Sunday in March to watch
supporting NATO on anti-terror
Quorn’s crew march through
patrols.
Melton, led by the RM Band, as
With those patrols over, precisely
snow showers lashed the shivering
172 sailors from the Portsmouth-
sailors.
based destroyer headed to their
Marching behind the Quorn
namesake city, where emotions
run high when it comes to the
contingent were personnel from
name HMS Gloucester.
the Defence Animal Centre – the
City leaders are lobbying
only other military unit to enjoy
Whitehall to keep the name alive
the freedom of Melton – the
when the present Gloucester
ship’s affiliated Sea Cadet units,
decommissions next decade by
TS Venomous (Loughborough)
naming a new vessel after their
and TS Tiger (Leicester), local
city.
veterans and two riders from the
Lord Mayor Cllr Sue
Quorn hunt, in all a good 250
Blakeley said the impression the
people of all ages.
sailors made as they pounded
Melton’s mayor Cllr Ron Marks
the streets of Gloucester had
performed a thorough inspection
been “brilliant, just brilliant”.
of the units formed up outside
She added: “It’s always good
the town’s Royal British Legion
to see a show like that in our
club, then presented the freedom
city.”
scroll.
It is a ‘show’ Gloucester
At that point officers drew
won’t see for some time as
their swords, the guard of honour
the destroyer has headed to
fixed bayonets and the colours
Rosyth for a revamp which will
were unfurled, before the parade
sustain her during the autumn
marched through the town, past
of her proud career.
Melton war memorial where Cllr
“It was a privilege to
Marks and Quorn’s CO Lt Cdr
lead my ship’s company
Mark Taylor took the salute.
through the city,” said
The parade ended in the rather
Cdr Mike Paterson.
warmer surroundings of the
“The reception
council offices for food, drink and
we received was great
the exchanging of various gifts.
● Eyes right... (Above) Gloucester’s Guard
– we’re already looking forward
It was an occasion, Cllr
of Honour, their bayonets fi xed, prepare to
to going back.
Marks told the sailors, his fellow
march through the city
“We are very proud of our close
townsfolk “would remember for
Picture: LA(Phot) Alex Cave, FRPU Whale Island
links with the city of Gloucester
years to come”.
and we hope to continue these
Lt Cdr Taylor agreed, thanking
● On the cusp of freedom... (Left) HMS Quorn’s
through our refit.” the people of Melton for giving his
Guard of Honour forms up outside Melton’s
Experts at Babcock are ship “a second home”.
Royal British Legion Club before freedom is be-
overhauling the ship’s engines and He continued: “The freedom
stowed upon the ship
boilers and install energy-saving ceremony is not the culmination
Picture: Std ‘Geri’ Halliwell
devices which will drastically of our historic affiliation with
reduce her fuel consumption rate. the borough of Melton, rather
● Celebrating freedom... CPO(MEA) Paul
Jones, carrying the freedom scroll, is followed
The work will keep the Fighting G a springboard from which to
by his shipmates
away from her home port until the strengthen the link between us,
year’s end. now and in the future.”
Picture: LA(Phot) Alex Cave, FRPU Whale Island
0028_NN_May.indd 128_NN_May.indd 1 113/4/07 14:48:373/4/07 14:48:37
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57