Change of programme for HMS Sutherland’s visit to Invergordon
Issued by Royal Navy, UK Regional Media and Communications
Royal Navy Type 23 frigate, HMS Sutherland, will visit her home county this weekend for a four-day visit, alongside at Invergordon.
Arriving on Thursday (March 24), the ship will now depart on Sunday (March 27) at approximately 10am.
This is a change to her previous programme and is for operational reasons.
“Obviously this is a bit disappointing,” said the ship’s Commanding Officer, Commander Roger Readwin. “We always enjoy visiting our affiliated county and are made most welcome.
“However, these ship visits are always subject to over-riding operational commitments, and, on this occasion, it has meant us leaving on Sunday rather than Monday.
“Despite this, however, we will still be proud to exercise the Freedom of the County on Friday in Dornoch at 2pm, as planned, and we will still be honoured to welcome Sutherland locals on board the ship when we open to visitors on Saturday from 1pm-4.30pm.
“We hope that we will have the chance to chat to as many locals as possible and will, undoubtedly, receive plenty of legendary Highland hospitality during our time in port.”
Her busy schedule kicks off on Thursday with a small lunch party for invited guests, including Lord Strathnaver and the Naval Regional Commander Scotland and Northern Ireland, Commodore Charles Stevenson, who will both have boarded the ship on Wednesday and spent overnight on board.
The lunch will later be followed by a capability demonstration for local and civic dignitaries, which will allow the crew to explain the importance of her role and ability.
On Friday, the ship will get her opportunity to exercise her Freedom of the County of Sutherland – a great honour and one which brings with it tradition and spectacle, as members of the ship’s company take to the streets of Dornoch, bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying.
Sutherland’s crew will be joined for the parade by the Royal Marine Band Scotland, on a rare visit to the north of Scotland.
Setting off from Dornoch Police Station at 2pm, the parade will wind through Dornoch, where it is hoped that local residents will gather in support of the ship, culminating at 3pm with a civic reception at Dornoch Social Club for invited guests.
And on Saturday local people can find out more about their very own ship when HMS Sutherland opens her gangway to visitors from 1pm-4.30pm.
Commander Readwin continued: “It is highly important to maintain strong links with our affiliated county, and it is a genuine honour to take the opportunity for HMS Sutherland, one of the Royal Navy’s most potent frigates, to visit her affiliated county.”