A Caithness homecoming for commanding officer as Royal Navy ship calls in
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A Royal Navy ship is calling in at Scrabster this weekend – and it will be a homecoming of sorts for the commanding officer.
Lieutenant Andrew Bonham and the crew of HMS Charger are due to arrive in the Caithness port on Friday afternoon and will leave on Sunday.
Lt Bonham was brought up in Thurso until the age of seven as his father David worked at the Vulcan naval test site.
Crew members from HMS Charger will be paying a visit to Vulcan.
The 49-tonne ship is a fast inshore patrol vessel for the Coastal Forces Squadron.
Lt Bonham said: "We’re all excited to be visiting Thurso.
"It’s about flying the flag in parts of British waters that are less often visited, assured and protected by the British armed forces. Inshore patrol is an area the Royal Navy is working hard to upskill in, with the newly reformed Coastal Forces Squadron at the forefront of this effort.
"We are keen to meet and engage with as many local people as possible, informing individuals in influential roles of the often unseen value the Royal Navy provides.
"We have a team of five young university students – and aspiring officers – who are learning the ropes and seeing if they have what it takes to lead our sailors at sea."
Highland councillor Matthew Reiss is among those looking forward to the visit.
"I was delighted to hear about HMS Charger's upcoming visit to Scrabster," he said. "The commanding officer, Lt Bonham, was a pupil at Miller Academy before his parents moved south. Andrew has told me it will be very poignant for him to be returning to Thurso.
"In these uncertain times it is reassuring to be hosting a naval visit. The Royal Navy offers an exciting and rewarding career for young people and the ship's presence here is good news."
