HMS Somerset Arrives In Llandudno Bay For Armed Forces Day

HMS Somerset has entered Welsh waters as she prepares for Armed Forces Day in Llandudno.

To mark this year's national event, HMS Somerset will be firing her ceremonial gun to start the celebrations in North Wales.

On Saturday, the Type 23 Frigate will also act as a backdrop to the Red Arrows display as they fly over the Royal Navy ship.

HMS Somerset was launched in 1994 and has over 100 crew members on board - some of which were looking forward to kicking off the celebrations in their home country.

Sub Lieutenant David Bowen, an officer in training aboard HMS Somerset felt proud to be part of the celebrations.

He said: 

“It’s extremely patriotic for me, it makes me feel very happy to be at my home celebrating the fact that I’m in the Armed Forces.”

Engineering Technician Adam Pollard, added:

"I don’t think everyone realises how much time we spend away from our friends and family, so having that bit of recognition is nice.”

But before the event, the crew still have to follow out their daily tasks, including fire drills, medical exercises, circuit training for fitness and even a morning session of Yoga before they start.

Chief Petty Officer Paul Underdown, on HMS Somerset, explained how despite being on a ship hazards are around every corner.

“We haven’t got the niceties of services back in the UK so we have to fight fires and floods ourselves.

”There’s anything that could set fire at any time of the day - unattended rubbish in a compartment, electrical fires, floods and with a lot of water around it’s a very hazardous place to be in.”

The ship also has to be self sufficient for for their medical care.

Petty Officer Peter Gibbs, said:

“You could be in the middle of the Gulf, as I’ve had to deal with before, where someone’s fallen over, smashed their knee and we’ve had to medically evacuate them.”

And before they start their shifts the crew arrive on the ships deck for a morning session of Yoga under the sunrise.

Engineering Technician Leah Budd is one of the early rises who attends the Yoga sessions.

She said: “When the suns out it doesn’t quite compare to anything else - Yoga in the mornings out with the sea and we’ve even had a few times where dolphins have popped up - it’s a nice feeling.”

Armed Forces Day celebrations will officially start on Saturday at the sound of HMS Somerset's ceremonial gun.