Ark Royal passes into history

WE WILL wake up tomorrow for the first time in more than 30 years without the name Ark Royal in the Royal Navy’s inventory.

The one time flagship of the Fleet – and highest-profile victim of cuts under last year’s defence review – was formally decommissioned yesterday in Portsmouth Naval Base.

Upwards of 900 guests from dignitaries, affiliates, former captains and senior officers to relatives of the 150 or so remaining ship’s company attended the hour-long ceremony on the carrier’s flight deck.

The carrier has already said her goodbyes to the people of Portsmouth and Leeds, her affiliated city, by marching through both metropolises.

Until the formal act of a decommissioning ceremony and the lowering of the White Ensign, however, the Mighty Ark was still Her Majesty’s Ship.

The carrier hasn’t moved since her final entry into Portsmouth in December – the odometer remains fixed at 621,551 miles sailed.

Since then the dwindling ship’s company has been involved with ‘de-storing ship’ – removing equipment which might be useful elsewhere in the Fleet (including the carrier’s engines); despite current talk of reactivating the ship in the light of recent global events, it would take upwards of six months to resurrect her.

Many of the ship’s company have already scattered throughout the RN, including Ark’s final CO Capt Jerry Kyd.

“Ark Royal is part of the fabric of the Royal Navy – she’s probably the most iconic and famous name in the Royal Navy,” said Capt Kyd.

“I am only too aware that this famous ship and her name mean a great deal to many people, but although Ark Royal will be decommissioned, the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers are vastly more capable and will provide the Royal Navy with an exciting future.”

He returned to the 20,000-ton carrier to witness the last act in her life.

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope was the guest of honour, inspecting a 30-strong guard before Ark Royal’s chaplain, the Rev Martin Evans, led the service of decommissioning, with music provided by the Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth.

With proceedings over, the White Ensign was lowered for the last time in more than 25 years.

Ark’s fate remains undetermined, with various plans mooted from the slightly bizarre (floating hotel/conference centre off Mablethorpe) to the more plausible (a floating helipad on the Thames to meet the growing needs of the capital for a dedicated airport for helicopters).