The Royal Marine Band led more than fifty sailors on parade through Tiverton as the HMS Enterprise received a spectacular send-off from the town. The ship has been affiliated with Tiverton for more than twenty years but will be decommissioned at the end of March. On Wednesday, March 15, the crew exercised the freedom of Tiverton to march through the streets in a 90-minute ceremony. Joining them was the Tiverton Sea Cadet unit. The ship – which has a street in the town's recently built Braid Park named after her - conducts oceanographic and hydrographic surveys, ensures safe navigation on and under the water, and acts as a floating base, or 'mothership', for mine countermeasures activities.
Commanding Officer of HMS Enterprise, Malcolm McCallum, said: "It is always humbling to receive such a warm welcome from our adopted town. The affection shown to myself and my sailors by the people of Tiverton is tangible; it really matters. I shouldn't be surprised as every time we have visited; we get the same warm welcome as we did today. You are a credit to your town. Over 20 years ago, Tiverton agreed to pledge their support to a new state-of-the-art operational warship called HMS Enterprise. It was no accident that this beautiful historic town in Devon was chosen.
"Although my sailors come from all corners of the UK, some even from Australia and New Zealand, many have made their home in Devon. The ship itself was built in Devon in Appledore, and its base port has always been Devonport. Enterprise, as well as the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, is inextricably linked to this great county, and for a ship designed to be deployed globally, it was an obvious choice to choose a town in a county which we call home."
He explained that the last two decades had been busy for the ship and its crew: "Your ship has deployed to all corners of the globe, conducting frontline operations. For a small ships company, Enterprise has continually punched above its weight; whether it be conducting patrols in the South China Sea, humanitarian operations in the Mediterranean or survey operations in the Arctic Ocean, Enterprise has protected the nation's interest, your interests, for the last 20 years, year in and year out.
"The ship is sometimes deployed for over three years away from the UK, with sailors spending up to nine months a year away from home, regularly in challenging conditions. They can only do this with support from not only their families and friends but also support from their adopted town. Enterprise, after a successful time in service, will be decommissioned later this month. Technology moves on; the Royal Navy is moving on as well. However, what won't move on is the bond that Enterprise and the Royal Navy share with the town of Tiverton. These things endure.
"I'll finish by taking this opportunity to thank you again on behalf of the country, the Royal Navy, and, more importantly, the hundreds of sailors who have served on board Enterprise over the last two decades. Thank you all for your continued support. Tiverton, you have discharged your responsibility admirably, the nation owes you a debt of gratitude, and as we stay in the Navy, your watch is done."
He added: "It was fantastic to be in Tiverton today. Despite the weather, Tiverton turned out on this auspicious day, and we had the Royal Marines band, who demonstrated they are world-class. It was a poignant moment for me, and I was proud of my ship's company. It's been 20 years since we've been affiliated with this town, and we always like coming back, and it didn't disappoint. We had the fantastic Royal Marines band playing us to the Beat the Retreat, and it sent a shiver down my spine that, unfortunately, we won't be able to do this again. Ship's companies move on, but all of them have that single bond of being on Enterprise and all of that single bond of being affiliated to this beautiful town in Devon. It is a sense of pride when we come here, not just because of the warm welcome, but because we are doing something for the town, and the town reciprocates by doing something for us and hosting us here today."
Mayor of Tiverton, Councillor Sue Griggs, who visited the ship on Friday, March 10, added: "What a wonderful treat for us today and such an honour for myself as mayor of Tiverton to be here today to welcome the ship's company of HMS Enterprise and the Royal Marine Band and everyone to our lovely town. How magnificent they look. We are very happy and privileged to have you here with us today and watch the parade. Sadly though, this will be for the last time, so it's a day of mixed feelings for us all. It's such an excellent site to see the ship's crew here today exercising their right to the freedom of our town as our adopted ship. Over the years, we built up a good friendship with the crew, enjoying hearing about their ship and what the crew have been up to during that time. We're therefore very sorry here that sec that the secretary of the state for defence has decided to decommission our warship, but as was explained to us on Friday when I was visiting HMS Enterprise, new technologies and the decision to analyse data rather than collecting it means the older ship will be retired. However, there will be many new chapters for the Royal Navy.
"I was fortunate enough to spend the day on board the HMS Enterprise for the last affiliate's days, and I had a very enjoyable and interesting day. We went out onto open seas, and I was glad I'd taken some sickness tablets. We watched the crew demonstrate some of their duties and showed us around the ship, for which I would like to thank the commander and the ship's crew. It was very enjoyable and interesting. We've been fortunate to have this warm and friendly alliance with the HMS Enterprise and all its crew over the last 20 years, and we will surely miss it."
She added: "I thought it was a fantastic day. It's lovely to see that in the town. When everything's so dismal, and there isn't much good in the news, this has cheered us all up and made us feel good. We've enjoyed having the HMS Enterprise affiliated with the town. It's been something we can all look back on and treasure. We are hoping to get another affiliated ship. I have spoken to the commander about that, and they're looking into it. I said we'd like an aircraft carrier, but the last two have just gone to other towns."
HMS Enterprise Freedom of Tiverton Parade - March 2023 - Credit : Lewis Clarke
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HMS Enterprise Freedom of Tiverton Parade - March 2023 - Credit : Lewis Clarke
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HMS Enterprise Freedom of Tiverton Parade - March 2023 - Credit : Lewis Clarke
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