THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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The first ship named ‘HMS Rhyl’ was a World War Two minesweeper. The one pictured above is a Rothesay class anti submarine frigate built at Portsmouth and completed in 1960; it became, like all other Royal Navy warships of the time, part of the NATO fleet which patrolled to discourage aggression by Russia and the Soviet Block during the days of the ‘cold war’.
The vessel made several visits to Rhyl from its base in Birkenhead. Its arrival was welcomed by cocktail parties, football matches, church services and very special events. Among town council documents is a letter dated 15 August 1981 to the Mayor from a member of crew saying that HMS Rhyl was in the Indian Ocean and had been at sea a long time and it would be nice to get some friendly correspondence from the town’s residents – particularly young ladies no doubt.
In October 1983 the ship was retired after having been part of the Navy’s task force during the Falklands conflict. In 1985 it ended its life as a target for guided missile practice before being blown up and sunk to the bottom of the sea off Land's end.
The picture is from the collection of Rhyl Town Council.
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