FORWARD
By Catain Buchanan

A modern warship is a complex and highly sophisticated creation. To operate such a ship successfully requires a wide diversity of talent: the skills of the seaman, the engineer, the shipwright, the cook, the electrician and many more at every level must blend together as a unit, a 500 strong team striving towards a single goal.

In the 18 years of her active life, Devonshire has travelled many miles, seen many places and done many different things. She has weathered every storm both figuratively and literally - and acquitted herself handsomely no matter what the challenge.

In the last fifteen months during which it has been my privilege and pleasure to command her, I have formed an attachment for Devonshire which 1 suspect is shared by many more who have served in or been associated with her over the years. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed in any way to her success; the officers and men who have sailed in her and their families, whose support is a contribution never to be underestimated, the bodies with which we have been associated over the years, perhaps especially the Devon County Council who adopted the ship and with whom I believe she has established a special relationship - the list is endless.

I hope the name of Devonshire will live on. She has been well served and she has served us well in return.

It is always difficult to know what to include and what to leave out when compiling a record of the life of a ship. This is ours and 1 hope you will read it with the same pleasure which we have had in producing it. It is a tribute to a great deal of hard work but it has also been a lot of fun.

With best wishes,

Captain C. A. F. Buchan