The first Royal Navy warship to visit Llandudno for a number of years dropped anchor in the resort’s bay last Thursday evening.
The minehunter HMS Atherstone was making a pre-arranged call to carry out a joint exercise with Llandudno’s RNLI all-weather and inshore lifeboats.
The warship had recently completed a two-year tour of duty in the Arabian Gulf prior to returning to the UK. On her way home the ship had called at Oman, Djibouti, Malta, Alicante, and finally Portsmouth prior to arriving at Llandudno.
During Thursday evening’s exercise the RNLI crews were able to practice medical evacuation procedures on board the minehunter before they and naval personnel paid visits to each others’ vessels to compare notes on the equipment and systems on board.
Renewing acquaintance with former colleagues was Royal Navy Petty Officer Nick Frost, a former member of Llandudno lifeboat crew who is now serving on HMS Atherstone.
An RNLI spokesman said later:
‘This was rare opportunity for our volunteer crews to practice going alongside a much larger vessel, and to deal with casualties following an incident on board a ship at sea. The RNLI greatly appreciated the co-operation of the Atherstone’s captain and crew in making the exercise possible’.
