The Fleet Flagship was in Poole to show support for the RNLI
This stunning photo shows the Royal Navy’s Fleet Flagship HMS Ark Royal being led by RNLI craft after paying a visit to Poole yesterday in support of the lifesaving organisation.
The warship detoured to the Dorset town to show its support for the RNLI’s ‘Train one, save many’ campaign, which helps fund the training of volunteer lifeboat crews.
The crew of the famous carrier took time out of their schedule to meet lifeboat crews out at sea by Old Harry Rocks. The RNLI teams were on a training exercise in the area in D-class and B-class lifeboats and a Trent all-weather lifeboat.
The lifeboats practised alongside Ark Royal while the RNLI’s representatives were presented with money raised by the warship’s crew.
Captain of HMS Ark Royal, Capt Mike Mansergh RN, said: “HMS Ark Royal greatly values the close link between the RNLI and Royal Navy in the safety of life at sea. The Fleet Flag Ship is a strong advocate of the RNLI’s Train one, save many campaign. We welcomed the opportunity to train together with volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews as we passed Poole harbour on the ship’s return from training in the North Sea, testing the boat handling skills of the brave RNLI coxswains.”
Ark Royal was en route from Newcastle, having departed from Northumbria Quay on Monday with over 100 affiliates on board, including four RNLI volunteer crewmembers.
To see more photos of the Ark Royal’s visit, visit MBM’s Flickr site .
To see video of the visit, see MBM’s YouTube page.
