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NAVY NEWS, JULY 2008 7
Picture: LA(Phot) Gregg Macready, HMS , HMS eady egg Macr e: LA(Phot) Gr Pictur
Ark Royal Ark Royal
Mirror on
the Mersey
IF ONLY it was this easy to double the
doesn’t get much better than this...
number of Ark Royals in this world.
... except that there was a large crowd waiting for
Sadly, the ‘Ark’ on the right is a mirror image of
Ark at Douglas Head on the Isle of Man to catch a
the legendary carrier, reflected in the stunning glass
fleeting glimpse of the flagship.
façade of Liverpool’s cruise liner terminal.
It’s been a decade since a carrier was last in Isle of
Amazingly given the ship’s career going back a
Man waters, hence the turnout.
quarter of a century, this was first visit she had paid
Sadly for onlookers, Ark didn’t do a great deal
to the great port on the Mersey.
more than disgorge some VIP passengers before
And so there was quite a turnout from locals when
heading off into the Irish Sea again to conduct
the carrier opened her gangway to visitors. In fact,
helicopter training.
when the queue grew too long (a waiting time of
The ship carried a smattering of Man dignitaries,
around two hours), the ship’s company decided to
including the lieutenant government, president and
admit no more to spare the curious onlookers being
chief minister from Liverpool.
baked by the June sun as they queued.
You didn’t have to see Ark in the ‘flesh’ to see her
Still, in excess of 5,000 people did get to look
sailors. Two dozen of them could be found on the
around Ark for free during the six hours she was open
hallowed turf of Wembley on May 17, unfurling three
to the public. They were invited to make donations
gigantic banners of Pompey players – who would
to charity... which they did with aplomb: more than
soon grace that same turf during the FA Cup Final.
£2,000 was given to naval charities.
The oversized ‘posters’ – of Kanu (who
“We’ve just been overwhelmed by the interest that
subsequently scored the winning goal), Glen Johnson
the people of Liverpool have shown in the ship and we
and ’keeper David James – were on display as part of
thank them for all their support and encouragement,”
the pre-match ceremony.
said Lt Paul Meacher.
Typically it’s soldiers who perform the honours,
Such support and encouragement wasn’t too
but given Portsmouth’s naval heritage, sailors were a
surprising for LA James Jones. “There are few better
far more obvious choice, and Ark was chosen.
sights than coming into the port of Liverpool and
Despite being affiliated to Leeds, the ship has been
seeing that skyline,” the Liverpudlian enthused.
striking up a strong relationship with Pompey.
The day after the open event, almost half the ship’s
Just before the season’s end, the Premiership side
company could be found across the Pennines in
chose to launch their new strip on the flight deck
Leeds to celebrate the freedom of the city, something
of the carrier (and not-so-eagle-eyed Portsmuthians
they’ve not done in nearly five years.
might have noticed a giant replica of it being hauled
The Yorkshire city has been bound with the Ark
across Solent skies).
for nearly 70 years, raising funds to help pay for a
“The people of Portsmouth who were at the game
replacement for Ark Royal III. Ark Royal IV, which
were full of praise for the RN personnel who took
served from the 50s until the late 70s, was arguably
part,” said WO2 Nathan Lawton, one of the lucky
the epitome of the post-war Navy, thanks in part to
banner carriers.
her appearance in Sailor. “We all had a genuine feeling of pride that we were
Today’s Ark has maintained the Leeds link, and so representing the RN and Portsmouth on this world
it was that the sailors marched through the city centre stage.”
of a fine summer Sunday. And perhaps they played a small role in Pompey’s
“I’ve done freedom marches in other cities but this, triumph.
our ship and our city, is something special,” said WO2 Back in 1939 – the club’s last appearance in the
Mark Fisher, who hails from Leeds. cup final – Ark Royal III pulled out all the stops for
Ark’s CO Capt Mike Mansergh added: “The Pompey.
friendship and bonds that we have developed with the The ship was due to sail for the Med with war
city of Leeds and her people are extremely important clouds gathering, but a sizeable number of its sailors
to all of us on Ark Royal – the freedom parade was were at the final. Ark waited at Portland with a special
undoubtedly one of the highlights of the weekend.” train laid on from London so the celebrating sailors
Lauded in Liverpool. Lauded in Leeds. Surely it could re-join her.
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