Bank holiday bonanza: HMS Portland at island port (From Dorset Echo)
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Bank holiday bonanza: HMS Portland at island port
10:00am Thursday 28th April 2011 in News
HMS Portland
THE crew of HMS Portland will exercise their freedom of the borough when they parade through the island on Sunday.
The warship arrives tomorrow and will stay until Wednesday with the crew welcoming groups and schools on board the fastest ship in its class.
The crew of the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate have been invited to street parties across the borough and have been granted permission to exercise its Freedom of the Borough of Weymouth and Portland to march on Sunday.
A service will be held at the Cenotaph at 2.30pm and the parade will then march to Easton Square.
Commander Mike Knott, commanding officer of HMS Portland, based at Devonport said: “Most of all we’re proud to have been granted permission to exercise our Freedom of the Borough of Weymouth and Portland and we sincerely hope that plenty of residents will come out to support us.”
He said it was ‘a great honour’ to come back to Portland for the ship’s 10th birthday.
He added: “We’re particularly delighted that we will be able to help celebrate the Royal Wedding along with the local population.
“We will also be celebrating the ship’s 10th birthday on May 3, so the whole weekend is set to be memorable experience.”
