ROYAL Navy warship HMS Ledbury has touched base with its namesake town after two officers paid a visit to Herefordshire.
The boat’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Simon Pressdee, and navigating officer Lieutenant Matt Irwin, were hosted by Ledbury Town Council and given a tour of the area’s businesses.
The town’s mayor, Councillor Terry Widdows, led the tour with his deputy, Coun Robert Barnes, which finished with a visit to the town’s 17th-century Market House where Lt Cdr Pressdee presented a ship’s crest to members.
The council later held a reception for the military pair in the council offices, which was attended by staff from Westons Cider, members of Ledbury Hunt and Ross-on-Wye Sea Cadet Corps.
Lt Cdr Pressdee told guests: “It is an honour to be here. HMS Ledbury is very fortunate to have such a strong affiliation with her namesake town.
“I hope to further this relationship on board the ship and here in Ledbury.”
HMS Ledbury is one of eight hunt-class minehunters based in Portsmouth.
It is due to conduct a large NATO exercise in the Baltic Sea in November, followed by training in UK waters.
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