2007 Reunion Report
Photographs of the Church Service
You only need to take a quick look at this websites guestbook to get a view of the success of the 25th HMS Ardent Association reunion in Plymouth:
"The organisation was fantastic, the whole weekend thoroughly enjoyable - a fitting tribute."
David Wilkinson
"Thanks to all who made my first reunion in 20 years so memorable and easy - it was like slipping into a well worn pair of slippers."
Christina Parkhouse (Widow of Stephen Heyes)
"I attended my first reunion this weekend for 20 years. I must thank everyone for making me feel so welcome. Emma and I had a great weekend and we won't leave it so long till the next time."
Dickie Davis
And the entries go on, but it is the strength of our comradeship, our commitment to remember our lost shipmates, our ability to still be a ships company all these years on that really stood out as the weekend unfolded.
HRH the Duchess of Gloucester talks to a cadet from TS Ardent at this years reunion.
Once again the young Sea Cadets from TS Ardent provided a splash of colour to the day. The last post of Bugler Laurence from the Royal Marine Band, the bagpipes lament from LSgt Ross McCrindle, Scotch Guards ringing through a packed (350 people) St Nicloas church in HMS Drake. HRH the Duchess of Gloucester, our ships sponsor, read out an address to the church but not before 22 red roses were laid at the HMS Ardent bell as Admiral West read out the names of the fallen. Afterwards the congregation gathered in the WOs and Senior Rates mess to have tea and meet HRH, a chance for the families of the fallen to share memories with the Duchess.
Bugler Laurence from the Royal Marine Band stands next to the new HMS Ardent Association standard that was dedicated at this year's remembrance service.
As day became night the evening reunion gathered and a packed mess played host to the festivities. For those that attend on a regular basis it was a similar experience but with the elegance that befits a 25th anniversary. The association did a fantastic job in pulling this all together. Pete, Angie, Richie, and the many, many helpers, should be rightly thanked. But the whole event would not have happened without the foundations laid by Tony and Lenny all those years ago. Our success is their success, so raise your glasses to them but also to yourselves. It was a fantastic turnout, a brilliant weekend and a fitting tribute to the memory of our 22 lost shipmates.
A cake of HMS Ardent prepared for this years reunion by friends of the Association Steve and Gill Horne. I think you can see it is a pretty impressive achievement that added and enhanced the whole special 25th anniversary reunion theme.
A smart turn out from the sailors mess.
This photograph was provided by Bruce (centre). If you would like to share photographs of the weekend you can now do this in a new area of the website. Once you have registered you can upload photographs and share them with all of us at the link below:
The HMS Ardent Assocation Gallery