Last ship leaves dockyard

Press, 25 June 1983, Page 14

Last ship leaves dockyard

NZPA-Reuter Chatham, England Four centuries of British naval history dating from the time of King Henry VIII have ended with the departure from Chatham dockyard of its last warship. Oatham, 55km south-east of London on the south bank of the River Medway, built Admiral Nelson’s flagship Victory and handled World War II cruisers and submarines up to 10,000 tonnes. Thousands of spectators watched the last warship, the frigate Hermione, leave on June 21 with an escort of other naval vessels, commercial tugs, and an armada of small craft. Navy helicopters hovered overhead and gunners fired an artillery salute. The fortified dockyard, which employed 7000 people

in eight docks along a skm stretch of the river, is being - closed to reduce Govern- ; ment spending on nonnuclear defence. “This will be the first time in four centuries that there has not been a naval 1 ship at the base. It is very • sad,” said the yard spokesman. Mr Tom Pearce. “Chatham has always been regarded as Britain’s - most historic naval base, ’ and so this is a very signifi- ■ cant moment,” he said.