HMS Montrose, in conjunction with the Worship Company of Distillers, has celebrated the achievements of 4 sailors for their performance during 2017.
HMS Montrose is very fortunate to be affiliated with a London Livery Company, the Worshipful Company of Distillers (established in 1638), who have been a key supporter of the ship since her Commissioning in 1994.
The Commanding Officer, Cdr Conor O’Neill, has been liaising closely with the current and past masters of the Worshipful Company to reinvigorate the relationship between the two organisations as the ship emerged from it’s refit last year, with the ship hosting some members of the Livery Company at sea and at the ship’s Re-dedication ceremony in November 2017.
As part of a wide package of support, the Distillers very generously provide a prize fund which is used by the ship to reward those sailors selected for monthly, quarterly and yearly awards.
The awards for the overall and departmental sailor of the year were announced in December 2017 to the Ship’s Company just before Christmas leave, however, this was the first time that the winners could be officially presented with their prize by representatives of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, after a celebration lunch onboard on the 13th February.
It took place whilst the ship was alongside in Devonport during a Maintenance Period after being at sea for several weeks throughout January and February, including a trip to Norway, flying training, filming for a TV series, gunnery firings and the assessment of trainee Warfare Officers during an intense week of training.
Mr Bryan Burrough, the Master of the Company for 2018, and Mr David Raines, a past Master, travelled down to Plymouth and came onboard to have lunch with the winners and conduct the presentation.
Mr Burrough presented each prize winner with a set of engraved glasses and a 10 year old bottle of whisky, with LET(WE) Perkin also receiving a personalised print of HMS Montrose.
Subsequently, the Marine Engineer Officer, Lt Cdr Albie Radcliffe, organised a Ship’s Tour for the two Distillers in order to bolster the long standing commitment and mutual understanding between the organisations.
The 2017 prizes were awarded to:
- HMS Montrose Sailor of the Year – LET(WE) Daniel Perkin
- Logistics Department Sailor of the Year – LWTR Richard Mullin
- ME Department Sailor of the Year – LET(ME) Daniel Butt
- Warfare Department Sailor of the Year – AB(EW) Christopher Hudson
The luncheon gave the onboard chefs the opportunity to practice their more advanced culinary skills.
Normally producing 3 meals per day (with at least 2 choices per meal) for the 180 Ship’s Company, 365 days a year, the event demonstrated the range of foods that a Royal Navy Chef is expected to deliver.
The meal was cooked and overseen by Chef Antony Graham (a new joiner to the ship, aged 23) who prepared pan seared Norwegian halibut with a pea purée, pea shoots and a lemon dressing for starters.
The diners then experienced herb crusted cannon of lamb, served with whole shallots, baby carrots, parsnip purée & parsnips crisps with a rich minted jus for the main course.
All the food was prepared onboard from fresh ingredients, with the halibut being sourced on the ship’s recent visit to Norway.
Chef Graham (1 of 8 chefs onboard) said “I volunteered to cook the meal as I wanted the challenge, I really enjoyed the experience and learnt a lot especially about how to gut the fish."
