8 Junior Ratings from HMS Westminster were joined by 4 Royal Navy Commanders from the Ministry of Defence to line the red carpet at the World Premiere of the New James Bond film, Skyfall, which took place at the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday 23 October. Photos: MoD.
Vigilance can report that When the world premiere of James Bond film ‘Skyfall’ opened its doors, sailors from HMS Westminster spied the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to one of the most famous fictional naval commanders.
Lining the red carpet as stars including Daniel Craig and Naomie Harris attended the glittering event at the Royal Albert Hall last week were eight junior ratings from the Royal Navy warship accompanied by four Royal Navy Commanders.
A Royal Navy source disclose that they were deliberately chosen to represent the Service due to the ship’s starring role in 1997 when she played the parts of HMS Chester, Bedford and Devonshire in ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’. The character of James Bond is also a Royal Navy commander-turned-spy.
One of the lucky sailors was 25 year-old Lisa Burt from Portsmouth.
The Leading Seaman said: “It’s been a great opportunity, after so long away, to enjoy a very special day in our affiliated city - and to be one of the first few to see the great new James Bond film Skyfall.”
Joining the HMS Westminster crew at the Royal event, which was attended by HRH The Prince of Wales, was Her Majesty’s Band of the Royal Marines Portsmouth. The band performed a drum march on the red carpet and a stunning medley of Bond theme tunes to mark the 50th anniversary of James Bond.
It was gathered that the star-studded evening followed a formal presentation of a five-foot long scale model of the Type-23 frigate to the Lord Mayor of Westminster by Commanding Officer Captain Hugh Beard.
Capt Beard and nine members of the ship’s company visited Westminster city hall for the handover, and were hosted for lunch by the Lord Mayor Councillor Angela Harvey to mark the strong affiliation with the between the two.
The Lord Mayor of Westminster said: “I am delighted to welcome members of HMS Westminster’s crew to City Hall to formally receive into our safekeeping the scale model of the ship. I hope to continue the City of Westminster’s special relationship with the ship and ship’s company in the future and hope they had plenty of fun at the ‘Skyfall’ premiere.”
Vigilance learnt that HMS Westminster, which is based in Portsmouth, recently returned from a seven-month deployment to the Middle East where she clocked up more than 44,000 miles carrying out maritime security patrols and disrupted pirate attacks targeted at merchant shipping.
Capt Beard said: “Westminster has just returned from a very successful deployment to the Middle East providing security at sea disrupting three major pirate groups and seizing 191kg of raw heroin ($25m). She also worked closely with regional and many western allies promoting partnerships and bolstering security in the vital sea lanes and helped provide a stabilising influence over trade and energy routes to help protect our economy.
Capt Beard enthused: “Today, as the ship undergoes maintenance ready for her next tasking, is an opportunity to reaffirm links with the City of Westminster and support our ties with the iconic character of Commander James Bond.
15 POG receive the Firmin Sword of Peace
The 15 POG Picture source: MoD
In another development, 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group (15 POG) have been awarded the Firmin Sword of Peace in recognition of their work in Afghanistan.
According to a source at the MoD the award is given to the unit or establishment of each Service judged to have made the most valuable contribution to humanitarian activities by establishing good and friendly relations with the inhabitants of any community at home or overseas.
The source revealed that a small team from 15 POG has been continuously deployed to Helmand for six years, adding working predominantly with the Afghan civilian population it has sought to inform, reassure, educate and through the promotion of free and unbiased discussion persuade Afghans that their futures are best served not with the Taliban, nor with ISAF but with themselves and their elected government.
Vigilance gathered that the unit runs a network of radio stations employing local Afghan’s as DJs, broadcasting music, poetry, debate programmes and even a Helmandi soap opera, as well as producing graphical posters and leaflets to communicate in an area where literacy rates are only around 20%. Recent projects include information campaigns to prevent children picking up spent ordnance they find, disseminating information from farming and veterinary workshops using their radio stations, and promoting debate on political issues of the day.
Presenting the award, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Sir David Richards said: “The work of 15POG has made a very significant contribution to fostering positive relations with local Afghan communities, and building vital understanding of our role and the role of the Afghan Government.”
Whilst Commanding Officer of 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group (15 POG) Commander Steve Tatham Royal Navy enthused: “We are delighted that our work is being recognised by this award. We are proud of our achievements helping foster better relations with the Afghans and building a sense of community and nationality, and of our support Task Force Helmand’s wider aims.”
Commander Tatham added: The levels of literacy and technology in Helmand present challenges for us, but there is an appetite for information, education and debate that our work helps to satisfy. It is heartening to see how our work can directly improve people’s lives, whether helping them participate in elections, improve their farming and livelihood, or promoting basic healthcare.”
