International Festival of the Sea 2005
HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
HMS Illustrious (R06) is one of three Invincible Class Carriers in operation with the Royal Navy. Currently serving as the flagship of the Fleet, HMS Illustrious has only recently returned to service following a two-year refit. These vessels are currently designated as Strike Carriers and operate 8 Sea Harriers and a mix of Sea King or Merlin Helicopters, up to 12 in total.
I really wanted to go aboard HMS Illustrious, however the queues were so big I wouldn’t have been able to see the rest of the fleet at all if I had. I therefore satisfied myself with some pictures from the quayside.
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HMS TYNE
One of just two ships that I was able to get onboard (the queues defeated me every other time!), HMS Tyne (P281) is a River Class Patrol Vessel, one of five on long-term lease to the Royal Navy from builders Vospers.
Although she’s only a small ship, the view from just forward of the Bridge was quite impressive.
On board I found more children (or were they the same ones as before?) attempting to operate the weapons, and began to worry about a child-takeover of the planet Earth, until I realised that they would never be able to see through the sights properly.
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The uniforms were all made by Keith Levett, livery tailor of Savile Row, who is standing the other side of Captain Hardy, and portraying Captain Thomas Troubridge, and beyond he, and also in your second photo, Captain James de Saumarez!
Wonderful to see those photos.
Yours aye,
Alex Naylor (aka Nelson!) Keith also made the Full Dress uniform which is now on board HMS Victory and also the undress one in the Nelson Museum in Monmouth. They are precise replicas of the originals.