Families and affiliates flock to HMS Atherstone

More than 170 visitors flocked to HMS Atherstone for her first affiliates and families day in four years.

Guests included the mine countermeasures vessel’s sponsor Amy Jarvis, who first visited the ship during her launch in 1986, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Atherstone and members of the Ton Class Association.

The ship, which earlier this year returned to Portsmouth after three-and-a-half years in the Gulf, cruised down the Solent before anchoring for lunch of the Isle of Wight.

As well as demonstrations and a tour, a search-and-rescue helicopter timed an exercise perfectly for the ship’s visitors.

Families of Crew 4 toured the Hunt-class ship, got the chance to sit in the Captain’s Chair, learn about clearance divers, including watching a dive, and sit in the aimer’s chair on the 30mm gun.

Relatives then enjoyed a hog roast on the sweep deck, from where they had a great view of Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup yacht in action.