Crew members welcomed the mayor of Richmond on board the HMS Richmond for two days last week, to mark the 20th anniversary of the battleship’s commissioning.
Councillor Meena Bond joined the crew onboard for two days as the warship made its way from Portsmouth Harbour to West India Dock in the Isle of Dogs, London.
The trip aimed to strengthen the connection between the borough and the ship’s crew and hear how the Royal Navy sailors were preparing to deploy later this year.
The battleship is renowned for being the most tried and tested in the fleet, having bombarded Saddam Hussein’s defences during the 2003 Iraq campaign and provided vital aid in the Caribbean after Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
After sailing with the crew for two days the mayor welcomed 14 crew members at a celebratory reception in the mayor’s parlour on Saturday, June 29.
Coun Bond said: “The dedication and determination of our servicemen and servicewomen never ceases to amaze to me – and it is no wonder that the Royal Navy are among the best of the best worldwide.”
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