Coronavirus: Portsmouth called to roll out' virtual red carpet' for Royal Navy's HMS Defender returns home

TODAY The News is calling on the city to roll out the ‘virtual red carpet’ to give hundreds of Royal Navy heroes the welcome they deserve after coronavirus fears saw their official homecoming being axed.
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HMS Defender has been on deployment for seven months, spending much of that time in the sweltering heat of the Gulf.

The £1bn destroyer will finally be sailing home tomorrow morning, with the crew being reunited with loved ones.

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But in a bitter blow for the ship’s company, the traditional homecoming – where families gather in the naval base to cheer sailors back into port – has been scrapped amid health concerns over Covid-19.

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The News is now leading a charge for the city to show their appreciation for the ship by creating a ‘storm’ on social media.

Mark Waldron, editor of The News, said: ‘The Royal Navy plays a critical role in protecting the nation, with sailors often working in arduous conditions, for months at a time.

Portsmouth, being the home of the Royal Navy, must never forget all that the men and women of the Senior Service sacrifice to keep us safe. That’s why we’re urging readers to go online and show their appreciation.’

HMS Defender with a £3.3m haul of drugs seized the Middle East. Picture: Royal NavyHMS Defender with a £3.3m haul of drugs seized the Middle East. Picture: Royal Navy
HMS Defender with a £3.3m haul of drugs seized the Middle East. Picture: Royal Navy
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City leaders have since backed the plea and urged as many people as possible to send messages of support to HMS Defender’s Twitter account.

Gerald Vernon-Jackson, leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: ‘This is a wonderful idea. The whole point of Portsmouth is the Royal Navy. Without the Royal Navy this city would never have been built.

‘It’s the beating heart of Portsmouth. We need to remember that and value that. We should be thanking every ship that comes from a long deployment. If we can’t do that in person this time because of restrictions due to this virus, then we can do it in other ways.’

Former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt also threw her weight behind the plea. The Portsmouth North MP said: ‘Let’s make sure Defender and her ship’s company know how much we appreciate them by giving her a homecoming the chief medical officer would approve of – let’s take to Twitter as she enters Portsmouth Harbour.’

HMS Defender carrying out her £3.3m drugs bust in the Middle East. Picture: Royal NavyHMS Defender carrying out her £3.3m drugs bust in the Middle East. Picture: Royal Navy
HMS Defender carrying out her £3.3m drugs bust in the Middle East. Picture: Royal Navy
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Councillor Donna Jones, Portsmouth Conservative leader and former city council boss, was among the first to send a video message of support to Defender.

Taking to Twitter, she said: ‘We, the city of Portsmouth, have a message for HMS Defender’s crew and company that we are really grateful for what you are doing, we can’t wait to have you back in the city and when you do come back in, we will make sure we will give you a hero’s welcome.’

HMS Defender is due to arrive in Portsmouth at about 9.45am, with the Royal Navy live streaming the event on its social media platforms.

The vessel deployed to the Middle East in August to safeguard critical shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, which have been under threat from Iranian attack in recent months.

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