HMS Liverpool visit Feb 29th - 22nd Feb 2012 6:06pm
HMS Liverpool to make her final visit to Merseyside between February 29 and March 5
A ROYAL Navy warship named in honour of the city is due to make one final visit up the Mersey before she is taken out of service.
HMS Liverpool will be decommissioned in March but the captain and crew of the Type-42 Destroyer, who last year were on the frontline against Libyan tyrant Colonel Gadaffi’s forces, were keen to come alongside the Pier Head one last time.
She will be berthed within sight of the Three Graces from February 29 to March 5 and the company will take part in a full programme of events to celebrate the ships links with the city, forged when she was laid down at Birkenhead’s Cammell Laird in 1978.
Since she was commissioned into service in 1982, just weeks after the end of the Falkland’s conflict, she has been around the world promoting and protecting British interests.
Last spring the ship, nicknamed the Crazy Red Chick, was honoured with the Freedom of the City during a ceremonial visit to Merseyside.
The crew will exercise their right as freemen to march through Liverpool’s streets for the last time on March 2.
More than 20 local groups will be hosted on board ship during the visit and the weekend of March 3 and 4 will see the gangway thrown open to the public who will have their last chance to see the vessel as a working warship.
Commanding Officer of HMS Liverpool, Commander Colin Williams, said: “This visit is one of celebration and appreciation of the sterling service which this exceptional ship has offered her country during her three decades at sea.
“To be bringing her back home to Liverpool is, without question, not only the absolute pinnacle of this celebration but also a very poignant and dignified moment in her long and illustrious life.
“The departure of the ship will be an equally crowd-pleasing spectacle, with gun salutes being granted to Cammell Laird and during a sail past the city’s waterfront.”
A ROYAL Navy warship named in honour of the city is due to make one final visit up the Mersey before she is taken out of service.
HMS Liverpool will be decommissioned in March but the captain and crew of the Type-42 Destroyer, who last year were on the frontline against Libyan tyrant Colonel Gadaffi’s forces, were keen to come alongside the Pier Head one last time.
She will be berthed within sight of the Three Graces from February 29 to March 5 and the company will take part in a full programme of events to celebrate the ships links with the city, forged when she was laid down at Birkenhead’s Cammell Laird in 1978.
Since she was commissioned into service in 1982, just weeks after the end of the Falkland’s conflict, she has been around the world promoting and protecting British interests.
Last spring the ship, nicknamed the Crazy Red Chick, was honoured with the Freedom of the City during a ceremonial visit to Merseyside.
The crew will exercise their right as freemen to march through Liverpool’s streets for the last time on March 2.
More than 20 local groups will be hosted on board ship during the visit and the weekend of March 3 and 4 will see the gangway thrown open to the public who will have their last chance to see the vessel as a working warship.
Commanding Officer of HMS Liverpool, Commander Colin Williams, said: “This visit is one of celebration and appreciation of the sterling service which this exceptional ship has offered her country during her three decades at sea.
“To be bringing her back home to Liverpool is, without question, not only the absolute pinnacle of this celebration but also a very poignant and dignified moment in her long and illustrious life.
“The departure of the ship will be an equally crowd-pleasing spectacle, with gun salutes being granted to Cammell Laird and during a sail past the city’s waterfront.”
