FORMER submariner David Heap is looking forward to welcoming old colleagues when Weymouth hosts a national conference.

Mr Heap, 67, of Preston, served on submarines from 1964 to 1987, including with the Polaris vessels based at Faslane in Scotland.

As a member of the Dorset branch of the Submariners Association he is helping to organise the national conference which will be held in Weymouth from March 26-28.

It will be the first time the association’s conference has been held locally since the branch was formed in 1954.

The local economy is expected to receive a boost as over 200 people visit the resort for the conference. The area has a long association with the submarine and Mr Heap says some members who are attending will have served on vessels stationed at Portland in the 1950s.

It was the Dorset branch which helped to erect a memorial at Portland Marina last year to remind people of the area’s explosive past.

A Mk 8 torpedo, some of which were manufactured at the former Whitehead factory at Wyke Regis and tested in Portland Harbour, was donated to the marina by the Royal Navy Submarine Museum at Gosport and painted by former submariners Mr Heap and George Nowak.

Members will be based at the Riviera Hotel at Bowleaze Cove for the conference where, on Friday, March 26, a reception will be held attended by guests including the High Sheriff of Dorset, Mrs Victoria Mc-Donaugh, and the Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Anne Kenwood.

The following day is reserved for association business and families will be offered the chance to join a coach excursion around Weymouth and Portland visiting the HMS Sidon and M2 submarine memorials and ending with a shopping trip.

Mr Heap said: “The branch is delighted to be hosting the conference in Weymouth this year and hope that everyone has a thoroughly good time.”