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- Re-commissioning Ceremony 1975
Re-commissioning Ceremony 1975
- By Robby G
- Published 05/11/2008
- HMS Devonshire
- Unrated
The News (Portsmouth) Friday May 30th 1975
Informality was the keynote for the fourth Royal visitor to the city in a month. Princess Alexandra, at Portsmouth for the rededication of H.M.S Devonshire, conducted a “walk-about in which she was for minutes on end hidden from the view of security men and obviously worried Service Chiefs.
Unflurried throughout her three hour official engagement, the princess mixed freely and at times chatted animatedly with service personnel, their families and friends after the official ceremony at the newly completed North Wharf.
In bright sunshine, Princess Alexandra, in a green check outfit and matching hat, toured the Guided Missile Destroyer which she had launched in 1960: cut the official rededication cake and finally met the ships company and their families who had turned out in force to watch the ceremony.
It was during her talks with the ships company and their families on the jetty that the Princess was besieged by youngsters which at times took her out of sight of her escorts.
Aboard Devonshire she took a keen interest in all that she was shown, from the armaments on the upper deck to the crew quarters.
Among those proudest to meet the Royal visitor was two year old Joanne Aggar, who was christened aboard in December 1973.
Joanne’s name is one of several that is inscribed on the underslip of the ships bell used in the christening ceremony. With her to meet the Princess was her proud parents Leading Seaman Arthur Aggar, of Eastney, and his wife Ann.
Said Leading Seaman Aggar, who has served aboard Devonshire for the past 18 months, “the Princess showed a great interest in the family. She asked how long I had served with the ship, which of the two children had been christened onboard, where we lived now and the childrens ages”.
Earlier the Princess, while inspecting the guard of honour, had chatted to the ships Gunnery Officer, Lt Ian Gulliver, on a two year attachment from the Royal Australian Navy, and is living at Hambledon, who was selected as the Royal Guard Commander.
She had a special word too for six year old Tracy Burgess, only daughter of RPO Douglas Burgess, who presented the Princess with a bouquet.
The present Devonshire is the eighth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name and was Britains first operational Guided Missile Destroyer.
Launched by Princess Alexandra in June 1960, she has, in previous commissions, visited the West Indies and the Far East. She is due to sail East of Suez next year, after extensive trials following the refit.
Informality was the keynote for the fourth Royal visitor to the city in a month. Princess Alexandra, at Portsmouth for the rededication of H.M.S Devonshire, conducted a “walk-about in which she was for minutes on end hidden from the view of security men and obviously worried Service Chiefs.
Unflurried throughout her three hour official engagement, the princess mixed freely and at times chatted animatedly with service personnel, their families and friends after the official ceremony at the newly completed North Wharf.
In bright sunshine, Princess Alexandra, in a green check outfit and matching hat, toured the Guided Missile Destroyer which she had launched in 1960: cut the official rededication cake and finally met the ships company and their families who had turned out in force to watch the ceremony.
It was during her talks with the ships company and their families on the jetty that the Princess was besieged by youngsters which at times took her out of sight of her escorts.
Aboard Devonshire she took a keen interest in all that she was shown, from the armaments on the upper deck to the crew quarters.
Among those proudest to meet the Royal visitor was two year old Joanne Aggar, who was christened aboard in December 1973.
Joanne’s name is one of several that is inscribed on the underslip of the ships bell used in the christening ceremony. With her to meet the Princess was her proud parents Leading Seaman Arthur Aggar, of Eastney, and his wife Ann.
Said Leading Seaman Aggar, who has served aboard Devonshire for the past 18 months, “the Princess showed a great interest in the family. She asked how long I had served with the ship, which of the two children had been christened onboard, where we lived now and the childrens ages”.
Earlier the Princess, while inspecting the guard of honour, had chatted to the ships Gunnery Officer, Lt Ian Gulliver, on a two year attachment from the Royal Australian Navy, and is living at Hambledon, who was selected as the Royal Guard Commander.
She had a special word too for six year old Tracy Burgess, only daughter of RPO Douglas Burgess, who presented the Princess with a bouquet.
The present Devonshire is the eighth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name and was Britains first operational Guided Missile Destroyer.
Launched by Princess Alexandra in June 1960, she has, in previous commissions, visited the West Indies and the Far East. She is due to sail East of Suez next year, after extensive trials following the refit.