The First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Phillip Jones KCB ADC paid a special visit to HMS Sultan as the Guest of Honour at the establishment’s Ceremonial Divisions.
In addition to inspecting the Guard of Honour the First Sea Lord presented awards and medals to worthy recipients.
Escorted by Captain Trevor Gulley, the Commanding Officer of HMS Sultan, throughout, the Admiral spoke to several members of the Guard of Honour before the Guard put on a special marching display.
HMS Sultan commissioned on 1 June 1956, and an impressive total of 1,086 personnel formed up in platoons as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations.
Addressing those on parade Admiral Jones said: “Today, we celebrate the achievement of all those who have worked and trained here during the past sixty years. But we also reaffirm the growing importance of HMS Sultan’s place in the Royal Navy’s future.”
The First Sea Lord continued: “When HMS Sultan was commissioned in 1956, the Royal Navy was entering a new technological era. Guided missiles were in their infancy.
"The angled deck and the steam catapult were changing the face of maritime aviation and the power of the atom promised to revolutionise undersea warfare.”
“Sixty years later, we are on the cusp of another, equally exciting, technological age. Within a few years, Marine Engineers under training today will be serving in the largest aircraft carriers and most powerful submarines we’ve ever built.
"Within months, the Air Engineers will be working with the world’s most advanced fifth generation fighters.”
“But our future isn’t just about new ships and aircraft, significant as they are. It’s also about the sensors, systems and weapons which keep us at the forefront of fighting capability.”
“But by far the most impressive factor - the single most critical factor in our technological future - is you. Staff or student, civilian or military - the Royal Navy has never been more dependent on engineers or the training that happens here at HMS Sultan.”
On completion of the parade the Admiral saluted the marching platoons and the Royal Marines Band Collingwood as they ‘marched past’.
The Ceremonial Divisions were attended by the Worshipful, the Mayor of Gosport Councillor Mrs Lynn Hook, MP for Gosport, Caroline Dinenage. Representatives of a selection of organisations to which HMS Sultan is affiliated, also attended the parade, including the Royal Naval Engineers’ Benevolent Society and the Fleet Air Arm Association.
During the divisions the following awards were also presented:
- WO1 Clapham - WO Parchment presentation.
- PO(AWW) Veck - Air OPS Iraq Medal
- ETME Rowan - Accumulated Service Medal.
- POAET (Av) Hornby - Captain Marrick Award for top academic student for POAET Avionics Qualifying Course in training year 2015-16.
- LAET (M) Dunn - Dr Rottman Plate for top academic student for LAET Mechanical Qualifying Course in training year 2015-16.
- LAET (Av) Mills - Dr Rottman Plate for top academic student for LAET Avionics Qualifying Course in training year 2015-16
