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  • 20/05/13
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Hollywood actor surprises staff building carrier

Sir Ben Kingsley paid a visit to Babcocks Rosyth dockyard

Sir Ben Kingsley paid a visit to Babcocks Rosyth dockyard

A HOLLYWOOD star surprised workers building the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier when he dropped in for a visit.

Oscar-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley was given a tour of the under-construction HMS Queen Elizabeth at the dockyard where she is being pieced together.

He met staff working on the ship on 
Monday as part of a tour 
of the Babcock base in Rosyth, Scotland.

Sir Ben was there because he wanted to learn about some of the ships built at the site.

Heavy handling engineer Alex Keatings, who works at the shipyard, said: ‘I did a double take when I saw him.

‘The last person you expect to see on a cold morning in Rosyth is a Hollywood star.

‘He was really interested to learn more about the work we’re doing.’

HMS Queen Elizabeth is the first of two 65,000-tonne warships, which will be based in Portsmouth.

She is due to be completed by 2016.

During his visit, Sir Ben tried out the driver’s seat of the huge Goliath crane which towers over the hull of the carrier.

The crane is used to lift various blocks onto the ship as she is being built.

Sir Ben was also given a guided tour of the aircraft carrier.

The two carriers vessels are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, a partnership between defence firms BAE Systems, Thales UK, Babcock and the Ministry of Defence.

Several blocks of the ship were built in Portsmouth and transported to Scotland on barges.

Sir Ben won the best actor Oscar for the 1982 film Gandhi.

 

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