Iron Duke treated as kings in Kingston-upon-Hull

Striding purposefully, three sailors from HMS Iron Duke marched on to the turf at the KC Stadium in front of nearly 22,000 people.

In a week when football and remembrance have led news bulletins and filled newspaper columns, the visit by the Portsmouth-based sailors to Hull City’s ground was a triumph of respect and commemoration of the sacrifices made by our Services past and present.

The sailors were guests of honour as the Championship side hosted West Ham United and lined the pitch as the teams walked out, before the three sailors pictured above marched into the centre circle to lay two wreaths and present the match ball ahead of a minute’s silence, impeccably observed by the crowd.

Proceedings at the stadium (the Hammers won 2-0 for the record) were among the highlights of three days very much in the public eye as the frigate was hosted by her affiliated city.

There was barely a moment to relax for the 180 men and women aboard Iron Duke once she was safely alongside in King George Dock.

Already in the city, waiting for the Type 23 warship to arrive, were seven sailors who’d spent the previous three days helping to paint the local Sea Cadet’s HQ… appropriately named TS Iron Duke.

As well as hosting dignitaries, schools and business leaders, the frigate staged a capability demonstration to show the good folk of Humberside what she and her ship’s company can do.

The sailors also carried out a search and rescue exercise with the local fire brigade.

The ship’s packed weekend programme also included hosting school children, a ‘pirate party’ on board for local foster children, and a run out for the rugby XV against Hull 2nds who beat the sailors 49-19.

More than 4,700 members of the public took advantage of a ‘ship open to visitors’ day when the gangway was opened for six and a half hours.

Thousands more Hullensians paused to applaud the sailors as they marched through the city centre, exercising their right of Freedom of the City of Kingston upon Hull.

Led by the Hull Police Band, the parade passed the Cenotaph, and continued through the main shopping streets, halting in Queen Victoria Square where Hull’s Lord Mayor Cllr Colin Inglis took the salute.

Afterwards he and civic leaders hosted more than 100 sailors at a reception in the impressive surroundings of the city’s Guildhall.

There were few prouder sailors taking part in events than LS Matthew ‘Beef’ Wellington who hails from the city (he’s one of two locals aboard the frigate).

“Marching through Hull in my uniform was a privilege – something I never thought I would get to do,”

he said.

For his Commanding Officer, Cdr Nick Cooke-Priest bringing Iron Duke back to Hull – it’s her second visit in a little over a year – capped an eventful 2011 for the Type 23.

She carried out her first ‘east of Suez’ deployment this year, a six-month tour of duty which ended with her joining the international effort off Libya when her main gun fired in anger at targets ashore.

“We regard our affiliation with Hull as an important commitment to the people of the area and an ideal opportunity to raise awareness of life onboard our ship,”

“Our sailors had the opportunity to show the people of Hull their professionalism and purpose in this rapidly-changing world in which we live.

“It’s also been a great chance for the ship’s company to repay the affection shown to our predecessors and to continue to foster the mutually rewarding relationship for the future HMS Iron Duke ship’s company and the city of Hull.”

said Cdr Nick Cooke-Priest.

The frigate is now back at sea hosting the specialist navigators’ course which will see her sail around the UK and drop in on the Channel Islands before returning to Portsmouth before the end of November.