Ledbury's back with stowaway
A Royal Naval minehunter had been operating at sea with a stowaway on board.
The story unfolded yesterday when HMS Ledbury returned to Portsmouth Naval Base with French sailor Franois among its crew after a four-month deployment to the Mediterranean as part of Nato's Mine Countermeasures Force.
The wooden figure, which stands six foot tall, was inducted in to Ledbury's crew while she was based at Toulon in France, becoming her mascot for the remainder of the tour.
And in scenes reminiscent of the famous film Albert R. N. – in which a dummy is used to cover for escaped Allied PoWs in a German prison camp – Francois joined the crew in this photo.
AB Diver James Shell, 23, of Clifton Road, Southsea, said: 'Franois is part of ship's company now. He's a bit wooden and doesn't move much but I'm sure he'll be at all the parties tonight.
'He's just a bit of memorabilia from our time in France really.'
Flying the Nato flag, HMS Ledbury sailed into Portsmouth Naval Base yesterday morning to a crowd of jubilant friends and family, who eagerly awaited the return of their loved ones.
After four months apart, Dawn Graham, 35, from North End could not wait to see her fianc Mark Priestman, a Seaman Specialist on Ledbury.
She said: 'I'm excited to get him back home. We have just moved house and he hasn't seen it yet. His 19-month-old daughter has missed him a lot. It feels like he has been away for a long time.'
Also eagerly anticipating Ledbury's return was Nichola Nelson, wife of Lt Cdr Chris Nelson RN, Ledbury's CO.
She stood on the jetty with their two children, Sophia, five, and Christopher, three, who both frantically waved small Union flags to welcome their father home.
Mrs Nelson said: 'I'm absolutely excited that he is coming home. I've been up since 6.30am and have two excited children with me.
'It's lovely that he will be home for Christmas.'
Lt Cdr Nelson, a descendant 0f Admiral Lord Nelson, took command of the ship in August.
He said: 'It's great to be home. This is the best job in the world but I hate going away from my wife and children. Blowing up ordnance in France was a highlight.'
michael.powell@thenews.co.uk
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Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 24 C
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