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.

The July 2008 issue of Ardlines has now been sent out by post and e-delivered for those signed up for this service. It is also available for download from the members area.

In this issue we report on the May reunion as well as all the latest news from our members and friends. We are also announcing the new PTSD advice section of this web site. As the newsletter went to press the assocation learnt that the MOD has published the official report into the loss of HMS Ardent in 1982. This report can be accessed via the NAAFI Queue chat area.

Those members who signed up for e-delivery of Ardlines saved around £10 in assocation funds for this issue alone and received the newsletter in glorious colour a week before the printed version. If you would like to join this service you can sign-up in the Ardlines section of the members area.

Today, Wednesday 21st May 2008, at 1800 ,the floral tribute was laid at the Plymouth Hoe Falklands Memorial.

The private little ceremony was very well attended by the Plymouth stalwarts. It was made even more poignant by the sight of RN/RFA ships , some at anchor , some under way, and in the background a Lynx helicopter could be heard. The Floral tribute was laid by John Foster and I recited “They shall grow not old…..”

Not very well I’ll admit because as usual the emotions very nearly got the better of me. There was another floral tribute already in position from Kevin MacDonald and family but no sign of them in the area.

We shall remember them.

Len

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.

The April Ardlines has now been posted and the online version is also available here. As well as all the latest news and 2008 reunion details this edition also features a story from Life Through the Lens on the front page.

As you can see, the new website is published, we hope you like it and welcome your feedback.

The original website is archived here and will remain in archive format for the foreseeable future so old guestbook and news items can still be viewed.