A Royal Navy sea captain will bring his 2,100 tonne warship to his hometown of Dover this weekend (11-13 October 2008).
Lieutenant Commander Ian Clarke will sail HMS Tyne, one of the Royal Navy's most modern warships, to the town for a two day visit.
The 80 metre long River Class offshore patrol vessel will be in town for a respite from her busy operational programme, conducting fishery protection duties and contributing to the maritime security of the UK.
Lieutenant Commander Clarke grew up in Elms Vale, where his mother, Maria still lives with grandparents Alan and Jean Corby. And as chance would have it, HMS Tyne's visit coincides with Maria's birthday, who is very much looking forward to having her son home for a rare visit to help her celebrate.
A former pupil of Dover Grammar School, it was here that his interest in a naval career started, being Head Cadet of the school's Combined Cadet Force Navy Section.
Lieutenant Commander Clarke said: "It will be a particularly proud moment bringing HMS Tyne into Dover where I spent my formative years - many of which were spent sailing in the harbour."
Nearing the end of his tenure, he added: "I will be in charge of HMS Tyne until the New Year before being lucky enough to take over as Commanding Officer of HMS Clyde, the Royal Navy's newest warship, serving as Falkland Island's Patrol Vessel."
HMS Tyne will depart on Monday to resume her primary role of fishery protection and maritime security in English, Welsh and Northern Irish waters, enforcing UK and EU legislation to ensure that UK stocks of fish are sustained for future generations. Working closely with the Marine and Fisheries Agency, she is a versatile ship capable of patrolling the entire area of the UK fishery limits throughout the year, in all weather conditions. As well as her primary role, she is at high readiness to contribute to a variety of other tasks from homeland security to Search and Rescue operations.
