It is with great sadness that the association has heard our shipmate Tony "Brum" Wilkes lost his battle with cancer on 28 January 2010.

The funeral was held on the 22nd February at Weston Mill Crematorium.

The Association also learnt that David Stephen Trotter (Leading Cook in 1982) also passed away on the 8 February 2010 after a short battle with Motor Neurone Disease. His Funeral took place in Kirkaldy Crematorium Scotland on Wednesday 17th February 2010.

Our thoughts are with both Tony's and David’s families at this sad time.

The world has been very busy these last few months but for the assocation its been very quiet. The pre-Christmas newsletter is currently being planned and this will have a feature on the Falklands Requiem which is being held in London on 2 December 2008. The date for the 2009 reunion is set for Saturday 23 May and will take place in HMS Drake as usual further details soon.

A few broken links have been fixed on the website and a few clean-ups needed in the guest book, we do get the odd cyber-vandel now and again. Please don't forget the chat area is there for you to use as much as you want, this has also been quiet recently as well!

Finally, don't forget the photo story book HMS Ardent (F184) Ships Life Through The Lens is still available for purchase here and website has a much improved preview of the book for you to view before purchase.

Rear Admiral R. J. Ibbotson, CB, DSC, to be promoted Vice Admiral and to be Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet and Chief Naval Warfare Officer in succession to Vice Admiral R. P. Boissier, CB, with effect from April 7, 2009. We also reported recently that Richard was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the Queens birthday honors list. Richard is a constant supporter of the Assocation and served as an officer early on in Ardent's first commission. He is currently serving as Flag Officer Sea Training and made a short appearance recently in the Channel Five series Warship, a documentary program following life onboard HMS Illustrious.


Congratulations from all of is in the assocation Richard, a very deserved promotion and honor indeed.

It is with deep regret that we announce the sudden death of our shipmate John Goddard. John passed away on 1 May 2008.

His Funeral took place on Monday the 12th May 2008 with a Requiem mass at Christ the King R.C. Church in Plymouth and then his body was cremated at the Weston Mill Crematorium. On a gloriously sunny day we said goodbye to John Goddard. 15 Ardent members took their place in the congregation both at the church and the crematorium. Moving tributes were said by John's daughters who bravely spoke about their father. We Ardents all mourn the passing of John who always kept us on our toes with his wit and humour. Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.