Dons and Diamond – Navy destroyer formally bound with Oxfordshire

The ancestral home of ‘former naval person’ Sir Winston Churchill was the fitting setting to cement ties between HMS Diamond and the County of Oxfordshire.

Twenty years to the day that the Type 45 destroyer was laid down at BAE’s Govan yard, civic leaders, former crew and VIPs gathered at Blenheim Palace to formalise the affiliation between the warship and county.

Oxfordshire’s councillors inquired about the possibility of an affiliation last year – an inquiry which fell on fertile ground – and agreed to adopt Diamond in late January.

They used a ceremony at Blenheim reaffirming their commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant to formally put their signatures to the new affiliation.

With the ship currently in refit in her home base – and a ship’s company numbering just two at present – it fell to the destroyer’s most recent commanding officer, Commander Pete Evans, to express his gratitude to the people of Oxfordshire for taking HMS Diamond under their wing and outline some of the work the ship and Royal Navy does on their behalf.

Not least among those deeds are those of HMS Diamond under Cdr Evans 12 months ago in the Red Sea when the ship came under frequent attack from Houthi rebels’ missiles and drones – fending off every one and safeguarding merchant shipping.

Cdr Evans was joined by fellow former skipper Commodore Marcus Hember, the Ship’s Sponsor Lady Suzie Johns, former Second Sea Lord and Governor of Gibraltar Sir Adrian Johns, Oxfordshire’s Lord Lieutenant Marjorie Glasgow and representatives from the Royal Navy’s London and Eastern England Regional Command, who helped arrange the affiliation.

Oxfordshire joins the city of Coventry as the destroyer’s principal affiliates – most Type 45s are bound with two cities/locations.

“As a landlocked county, the people of Oxfordshire are not used to thinking about the sea and are less familiar with the Royal Navy’s activities, compared to the significant RAF and Army presence they have in the county,” said Lieutenant Sam Knight, Naval Regional Command Deputy Liaison Officer.

“They however left the event full of pride in and intrigue at their new affiliated ship with plenty of excitement and enthusiasm to take the affiliation forwards.”

Oxfordshire County Council Leader Councillor Liz Leffman added: “It was a pleasure to see this new bo nd sealed.

“It strengthens the link between the Royal Navy and our local communities and reaffirms the council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and our significant armed forces communities. The County already plays host to Naval cadet units.”

Pictures: David Fisher/Fisher Studios