Fine weather blessed the five Paviors -Andrew Panter, Ralph Wilson, John Carpenter and John Price, led by the Upper Warden, John Mills - when they spent "Affiliates Day" aboard our adopted ship, HMS Argyll off Plymouth.
Affiliates day is an opportunity for the Ship's Company to welcome a variety of friends and associates on board. About 70 visitors from varying organisations were on board that day ranging from the directors of Plymouth Argyll football club to local sea scouts to serving officers from RAF Lyneham.
The ship was alongside and the party was ceremonially piped aboard and greeted by the Second Officer,the CEO and Lt. Sue Seagrave, host for the day. The first thing to be observed was the delicate manoeuvring of the ship from the quay, out of the harbour and into open water, passing other naval vessels, including two submarines, on the way.
The Paviors were taken aft to the hangar to join other groups of affiliates and to be formally welcomed by the Captain, Commander Kelbie. Then the day was spent witnessing a variety of activities including a man overboard exercise, touring the operations room, the bridge and even a tour of the galley, which later produced an excellent lunch in the Wardroom. As the ship was near the end of its tour of duty it was necessary to use up the Ship's alcohol store and the Paviors did their bit to help.
At the end of the day in the Captain's cabin, the Upper Warden presented the "Paviors Man of the Year Award", an engraved tankard, to Chief Petty Officer 'Jan' Hamlyn, adjudged to be the most outstanding seaman on Argyll during the last year. Commander Kelbie had read out the citation and expressed his appreciation to the Paviors Company for its continued support and association with HMS Argyll.