Crowds welcome Cumberland home for Christmas
7 Dec 09
Over 600 well-wishers welcomed the crew of HMS Cumberland home on Friday from a six-month deployment conducting counter-narcotics and piracy operations off the Horn of Africa.
A couple watch HMS Cumberland as the ship rounds Drake's Island on its approach to HM Naval Base Devonport
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Alex Cave RN and LA(Phot) James Crawford, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
A Royal Marines band entertained the crowds who braved the biting wind and rain to await their loved ones on the jetty at HM Naval Base Devonport in Plymouth.
Over the course of the deployment the Type 22 frigate visited three continents and travelled 40,000 nautical miles to help protect international shipping from piracy and stop illegal drugs from reaching their intended markets.
HMS Cumberland's Commanding Officer, Captain David Dutton, said:
"It is fantastic to see our families and friends on the jetty in such huge numbers. It was a wonderful sight when we came alongside. There was a distinct buzz around the ship after Gibraltar when we were on the final stretch home; the Plymouth welcome has lived up to that anticipation."
Able Seaman Steve Hyland was met by his girlfriend, Danielle, with their new baby, 10-week-old Oliver:
"It's really great to be back home and to see Danielle and Oliver," he said. "He has changed already, even though I was allowed home to see him born. We had a good deployment, but it is fantastic to be home."
Chief Petty Officer Lee Beardsmore was greeted by his wife, Yvonne, and their children. CPO Beardsmore said:
"It was a successful deployment with some excitement with the drugs bust and chasing and catching pirates. The highlights otherwise were visiting the Seychelles and Barbados. But it is so good to be back."
Able Seaman Steve Hyland is reunited with his 10-week-old baby son, Oliver, at Devonport Naval Base
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Alex Cave RN and LA(Phot) James Crawford, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
His wife, Yvonne, said:
"I have had emails every day from Lee, but it is obviously amazing to have him back. He's been away twice on deployments in 18 months. But this makes Christmas extra special, especially so for the boys. I even managed to get Christmas off duty at the hospital."
Chef Daniel Ealey was met by his partner, Iona, and their children, Lanaeya, aged three, and one-year-old Alexander:
"It's wonderful to be back home," he said. "The deployment was successful; our very presence was an effective deterrent to the illegal activity at sea. Alexander has changed a lot in his short life and even has hair now!''
His partner, Iona, said:
"It's wonderful to have Daniel home; he has missed half of Alex's life. Alex wasn't even crawling when Daniel went away, now he is very active. Lanaeya was devastated when her daddy went away because she didn't understand why he'd left for what she thought was forever, but she is so excited now!"
HMS Cumberland's ship's company line up along the upper deck as the ship comes alongside at HM Naval Base Devonport
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Alex Cave RN and LA(Phot) James Crawford, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
HMS Cumberland sailed from Plymouth on 24 May, stopping at Valletta in Malta and Souda Bay in Crete for rest and recuperation before entering the Gulf of Aden.
On leaving the Suez Canal, the ship was battered by a monsoon off the Horn of Africa with high winds and heavy sea testing the entire ship's company.
HMS Cumberland's first drugs bust came on 7 July when a boarding team seized 12 tonnes of cannabis resin with an estimated UK street value of £43m during the search of a dhow off the coast of Oman. See Related News >>>
Captain Dutton said:
"This has been a highly successful and busy deployment. I must pay full credit to my ship's company for a job well done.They have been thoroughly professional and are a tribute to the Royal Navy."
The ship's company are now on leave for Christmas.