A Royal Reunion

 The Duchess of Gloucester joined over 250 members of the HMS Ardent Association for a service of remembrance to mark the 30th anniversary of the sinking of HMS Ardent and the loss of 22 of the crew in the 1982 Falklands War. The Duchess has remained patron of HMS Ardent and the HMS Ardent Association since she launched the ship in May 1975. Cutting a commemoration cake the Duchess told the Association members that it was important to mark these events and she was proud to be part of the 30th remembrance service. The founders of the Association, Len Yeatman and Tony Ray, commented that their original idea for the Association was to be a centre of contact for the ships company. What they never expected was for the HMS Ardent Association to be one of the strongest associations to come out of the 1982 Falklands War and they are looking forward to the next 30 years.The association was set up immediately after the 1982 Falklands War in a hope to foster and promote the name HMS Ardent and provide a focal point to remember our fallen crew mates. This was the 30th gathering  of the Association in Plymouth since the first service of remembrance held in 1982 when the crew gathered for one last time in HMS Drake to say goodbye to each other and their 22 fallen shipmates.Photographs from the weekend by Richie:[flickr-gallery mode="tag" tags="ply2012" tag_mode="all"]