Final civic honour for the Fighting G

THERE is the chance for the good folk of Gloucester to see the men and women who uphold the city’s name on the high seas for the last time tomorrow.

Sailors from HMS Gloucester will parade through the streets before a service celebrating the destroyer’s achievements over the past 25 years.

They will be joined in the civic ceremonies by local leaders, plus the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (the latter is the destroyer’s proud sponsor and has followed the warship’s progress avidly since she launched her at the now-defunct Vosper Thornycroft yard in Southampton in 1982).

Fighting G glee as destroyer returns home

ON A glorious spring day the ship’s company line the upper decks of HMS Gloucester for the final time at the end of a deployment.

The ship sailed into Portsmouth Harbour this morning, bringing the curtain down on a magnificent 25-year career.

The veteran destroyer was greeted by hundreds of families and friends in Portsmouth – plus the lady who has followed the ship from the laying of the keel to this last act: the Duchess of Gloucester.

She’s shown avid interest in the Type 42’s progress through one war (first Gulf), two rededications and 15 captains.

Fighting G home for the last time

THE curtain falls on the magnificent 25-year career of HMS Gloucester tomorrow when she returns from her final deployment.

The veteran destroyer will be greeted by hundreds of families and friends in Portsmouth – plus the lady who has followed the ship from the laying of the keel to this last act: the Duchess of Gloucester.

She’s shown avid interest in the Type 42’s progress through one war (first Gulf), two rededications and 15 captains.

Due South (Georgia) for HMS Gloucester

HMS Gloucester has saved the best till last in her seven-month deployment to the South Atlantic.

The destroyer left the Falklands behind for a visit to the haven of nature that is South Georgia.

When the Fighting G was last down South Georgia way more than a year ago, the snow was over a foot deep right the way down to the beach.

This time it was the height of the southern summer, the jagged mountains and glaciers of the Allardyce range were this time showing a rather different face – they were visible, for a start, in gleaming sunshine.