Duke of Cambridge marks Royal Navy anniversary
Friday, 3rd May 2019
His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge, Commodore-in-Chief, the Royal Navy Submarine Service, attended a service to recognise fifty years of Continuous At Sea Deterrent at Westminster Abbey at Noon on Friday 3rd May 2019.
The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, who said in his Bidding:
For the past fifty years, Royal Navy submariners have patrolled the oceans and seas of our world, sometimes for many months at a time, burdened with a force able to engender a greater destructive power than has ever been seen on earth.
Today we thank God that this continuous at sea deterrence, part of a balancing of forces between the most powerful nations on earth, has had the effect of maintaining peace and security between the nations. We pray that the Royal Navy may never be required to deploy these terrible forces in war and that they may continue to deter their use by others.
We give thanks for all the thousands of people who have designed, built, supported, and crewed the submarines during these past fifty years and for their families, and we continue to pray for the life and work of the Royal Navy, in particular for its submarine service.
At the start of the service, the Submarine Service Colour was borne through the Abbey by Lieutenant Gary Linden RN, escorted by Warrant Officer First Class Michael Golby, Leading Seaman Mark Dunion, and Leading (Writer) Stephen Boultby, presented to the Dean and placed on the High Altar.
The Address was given by the Dean.
Testimonies were read by Isobel Fraser; Rear Admiral Tim Hodgson MBE, Director Submarine Capability, Ministry of Defence; and Leading Engineer Technician Edward Owen.
