Victory Squadron trainees pay their respects

A group of Phase 2 CIS Trainees from Victory Squadron travelled to Stone in Staffordshire recently to pay their respects to the First Earl of St Vincent, Admiral John Jervis, whose figurehead (Old ‘Jervie’) stands just inside the Main Gate at HMS Collingwood.

‘St Vincent’, as he became known after the famous battle he won, is buried in the family mausoleum in the Churchyard of Stone’s Parish Church of St Michael.  

HMS Collingwood Chaplaincy Team Leader, Martin Evans, who accompanied the group, said “As the Trainees gathered inside the mausoleum, in the very place where the First Earl St Vincent was laid to rest, it was extraordinary to think of his remains lying there behind the stone slab bearing his name. 

“The Admiral was hugely instrumental in stamping out corruption in the Navy of his day and in improving naval training for young sailors.” 

After a short Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance, Mayor Jim Davies and his wife Lin, continued to show the group around the town, including a pleasant walk beside the canal running through Stone.

Afterwards they learnt about how the local beer was made at Lymestone Brewery before having lunch washed down with refreshments from the brewery! 

The Trainees then visited the National Memorial Arboretum, which was a short drive from Stone.