England

Final service for HMS Ark Royal

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A ceremony to mark the decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal has been held in Portsmouth.

The aircraft carrier was decommissioned after 25 years in service as part of the Government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review last year.

During the ceremony the ship’s white ensign was lowered for the final time. 150 sailors on board took part in the event in front of about 900 guests including families and former commanding officers.

The First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope also inspected a guard of 30 of the ship’s company.

The songs For Those in Peril on the Sea and Auld Lang Syne rose from the decks as people remembered her great history.

Captain Jerry Kyd, the last Commanding Officer of HMS Ark Royal who now commands HMS Illustrious, said: “Ark Royal has played a very important role throughout her history and has had considerable success in delivering carrier strike."

"For me, personally, I have been exceptionally proud to serve as her captain – my very first job after finishing my initial officer training 25 years ago at Dartmouth was in the then brand new HMS Ark Royal. It is therefore a great honour for me to have been her last captain.”

The Royal Navy flagship took part in several major operations during her career including the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the NATO campaign during the Bosnia conflict.