Submarines from five boats, plus engineers who’ll soon join them, paraded through the town synonymous with the Silent Service: Barrow in Furness.
Under various names and guises – today BAE Systems – the town’s shipyard has built most of the Royal Navy’s submarines, beginning with Holland 1 in 1901, all the way up to the latest Astute-class boats rolling out of the sheds today.
The service was exercising its Freedom of the Borough of Barrow at the council’s invitation. The event marked the 15th anniversary of the honour originally being bestowed at the centenary of the Submarine Service in 2001.
The parade was led by the Band of H.M. Royal Marines, a 24-man Guard and Colour and Casket party with further marching platoons being drawn from HMS Audacious, HMS Astute, HMS Torbay, HMS Vanguard, HMS Victorious and HMS Sultan.
Mine Counter Measure Vessel HMS Ramsey, was berthed at Town Quay over the weekend, welcoming members of the public on board on Saturday and Sunday.
As well as participating in the parade, the Royal Marines band performed a public concert in the Forum Theatre at 3pm on Saturday.
The Submarine Service launched a new public information trailer at the event, providing a taste of life on board a submarine through pictures, videos, periscope imagery and the opportunity to talk to serving submariners.
Rear Admiral John Weale, Head of the UK Submarine Service, said: “Barrow in Furness sits at the heart of the UK’s scientific and technological community that keeps the Royal Navy on the leading edge of global submarine and nuclear technologies.
“The borough and the Royal Navy have worked closely together for more than a century: from HMS Holland 4 and HMS A1 being laid down in 1902, through the Swiftsure and Trafalgar class boat builds of the 1970s and 80s, and now the town is building our seven 21st Century Astute class submarines – arguably the most capable attack submarine in the world.
Commodore Gary Doyle, Naval Regional Commander North of England, said: “The event was a great success. It was terrific to see so many people come out to show their support for the submarine service despite the poor weather.
“Around 3,000 people visited HMS Ramsey and the recruitment village on Saturday and a further two thousand did so on Sunday, while several hundred people lined the dock to wave off the ship on its departure.
“I think this is a wonderful illustration of the close relationship enjoyed by the Navy and the people of Barrow, which we see echoed elsewhere in the region, and the appreciation which the public has for the vital role performed by our people in protecting the nation’s interests.
“I would like to thank them, as well as the local authorities who put so much hard work into the organising the weekend’s events and ensuring they passed off so smoothly.”
