Farewell to HMS Campbeltown

[Nancie]

HMS Campbeltown will be leaving Campbeltown on Monday at 10.00am for the last time. On April 7th she will be decommissioned at Plymouth.

We want to make a memorable farewell to the ship and all her ship's company who are very very sorry that the link with her namesake town will be lost.

The ship will leave the jetty at 10.00am and make her way up the loch as far as she can before setting off her saluting guns. Over 100 pupils are coming from CGS to wave goodbye from the prom and another flotilla of small boats will escort her from the loch for the last time.

We hope that Campbeltown Sea Cadets will salute her from the POL Jetty with a piper playing a lament as she leaves. Anyone wishing to come down to the POL Jetty before 10.00am may leave their cars at the guardhouse. They will be given a lift to the end of the jetty where they can wave the ship off.

People who cannot do that could stop on the pier, the prom or esplanade with their cars and sound their horns and flash their lights. Please help us to make this a memorable occasion.

The church service on Sunday at 11.15am in the Lorne and Lowland Church is also open to anyone wishing to come along. Some of the ship's company, the Sea Cadets, the British Legion and a few other groups will be in attendance as well as councillors, Campbeltown community councillors and Billy Petrie, the Provost of Argyll and Bute.

[WC1]

The church service on Sunday at 11.15am in the Lorne and Lowland Church is also open to anyone wishing to come along. Some of the ship's company, the Sea Cadets, the British Legion and a few other groups will be in attendance as well as councillors, Campbeltown community councillors and Billy Petrie, the Provost of Argyll and Bute.

The ship's Chaplain, Rev Alen McCulloch, will be preaching at Highland Parish Church, accompanied by members of the ship's company, also at 11.15.

[Nancie]

Thanks for mentioning that Willie. Rev McCulloch is an old friend of Rev Lind at Highland Parish.

[bill]

Surprised no one has posted farewell photos.If you follow the link below you will find a terrific set of photographs of her farewell from the loch.


http://forargyll.com/2011/03/hms-campbe ... o-quietly/



Just found the photos on the Photos round Kintyre thread.

[Kintyre Forum News]

Yes, I meant to post on here to say photos from the weekend can be found at

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=11617

Thanks to JD for posting these - really appreciated!

[jamiemcivor]

I've been meaning to post a note of appreciation to the organisers of last Wednesday's parade and all the people who took part for all their help and co-operation.

I realise it was not easy to hold up the parade for a few minutes so that it coincided with my live piece - and it can't have been much fun for the people standing outside the Victoria Hall in the wind and rain - but hopefully it was worth the effort. It certainly gave an enormous lift to the live segment.

Thanks,
Jamie.

[Isa]

Jamie, it was a lovely sight to see her steaming out the loch with all the sailors lined up on both sides of the deck.

I was fortunate to be able to see this and realise what a historic event it was but at the same time very aware of the fact that many people have work commitments and didn't get the opportunity to be there as it was happening. A break for an hour wouldn't be that big a deal compared to the hundreds of thousands that the Royal Wedding day off is going to cost the ratepayers for that farce.

The final journey for this ship out the loch was a rare event that the few who work and who were unable to be there because someone needs to shore up the many on benefits. I am sure your coverage was appreciated by the workers. Well done to George for organising the parade and all who took part in it.

The weather was kind to all the spectators for the final journey of the HMS Campbeltown's out the loch.

Isa