"A great honour": Portsmouth Royal Navy warship HMS Daring to be given accolade once repairs are completed
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A warship which has been undergoing repairs for more than 3000 days will be given a special accolade once she returns to the fleet.
Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer HMS Daring will be given an affiliation with Leicestershire once she completes her transformation. She has been at HMNB Portsmouth for a long period of time, with work being carried out to enhance her engines and prepare her for several years in the fleet.
Civic leaders and the Royal Navy have agreed that the ship will fly the flag for the city and county wherever she deploys around the world. In return, the people of Leicester and Leicestershire will offer moral and, at times, physical support to the destroyer and her 200-strong crew.
All ships have affiliations with towns, cities or boroughs and, occasionally, with entire counties. Commanding Officer Commander Graeme Hazelwood said: “As we work to return HMS Daring to the front line, establishing lasting ties with affiliates is a key link to the nation and people we proudly serve.
“This new affiliation with Leicester and Leicestershire marks the beginning of a new chapter and we celebrate the connection with a county rich in history, industry and innovation. We look forward to the relationship ahead and the chances to build close ties.”
For the past two decades, HMS Daring has been bound with the city of Birmingham and Guernsey in the Channel Islands. With the new Type 26 frigate HMS Birmingham being built, HMS Daring will now be affiliated with Leicester and Leicestershire. The ship’s company will keep civic leaders up to date with their activities and operations, while attending key events such as Remembrance parades.
The city of Leicester has previously had ties with battle-cruiser and then nuclear submarine HMS Renown. Mike Kapur, Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, said: “This is a great honour. We’re grateful to the Royal Navy for everything they do to protect the UK and I’d like to send my sincere thanks for this significant affiliation.
“Not only is it an opportunity to bolster understanding and awareness of the Royal Navy’s work, it’s also a chance to step up awareness of careers in the Navy and support the many hardworking charities across Leicester and Leicestershire.”