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Galleries: Families' joy as HMS St Albans sails home
Families cheered the return of their loved ones as HMS St Albans sailed home after six months at sea.
The Type 23 frigate sailed into Portsmouth naval base after travelling around Europe on training operations.
Among them was proud father Liam Reith who was thrilled to be reunited with his family – especially his 10-week-old son Ollie.
The 20-year-old Able Seaman Warfare Specialist had not seen baby Ollie since his wife Sarah gave birth at St Mary's Hospital.
He returned to HMS St Albans to see out the last weeks of his first deployment with the Royal Navy soon after his son's birth.
Holding Ollie in his arms once again, he told The News: 'It feels absolutely brilliant, this means so much.
'I've been keeping in touch with Sarah over the last 10 weeks. It has been hard being away but it's great to be back.'
Wife Sarah, 22, said she couldn't wait to have Liam back at the family home in Southsea.
She added: 'I hope they are back for a while, for a few months at least. I've missed him so much.
'He can do his share of the night feeding now.'
Also celebrating a return to family life was Petty Officer Richard Newman, 34, who arrived back in time for son Aaron's seventh birthday party.
'I'm so glad to be back in time. I've missed five of his birthdays over the years so this one will be very special,' he said.
PO Newman, who lives with wife, Sarah, and children Aaron, seven, and Joseph, four, in Gosport, joined the ship's company three months ago.
Clinging to his dad's side, Aaron said: 'I've really missed him, I'm looking forward to playing football with him again.'
Commanding officer of HMS St Albans, Commander Adrian Pierce, said the deployment had been a great success.
'It has been a delight to lead such a well-trained group of sailors,' he added.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
