A GROUP of crew members from Royal Navy minesweeper HMS Ledbury will visit the town next week.
During the visit, the ship's executive officer John Woad, who is leading the party, will lay a wreath on the town's war memorial in the High Street.
The visit is the latest in a long line of links between the ship and the town, which includes HMS Ledbury being given the freedom of the town in 2007.
It starts on Monday when most of the HMS Ledbury party will arrive at the Market House at 10.30am.
However, some are cycling the 150 miles from Portsmouth to Ledbury, and town mayor Paul Winter intends to meet them on his own bike in Gloucester and escort them to town.
After lunch at the town council office, the crew will visit the primary school and the hospital.
In the evening, there will be a football match at Ledbury Rugby Club between the ship's team and a team of adults from Ledbury Swifts FC. All are welcome to the match, which will be followed by a barbecue.
On Tuesday, crew members, as well as laying the wreath, will visit John Masefield High School and the kennels of Ledbury Hunt, after which the ship is named.
Coun Winter said: "It's a great honour to have a visit from the crew of HMS Ledbury."
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