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 2 minesweeper which had J36 on its side.
The second HMS Rhyl was marked F129. This was a Rothesay class anti-submarine frigate built at Portsmouth and completed in 1960. Like all other Royal Navy warships of the time, was part of the NATO fleet which patrolled to 'discourage aggression by Russia and the Soviet Block' during 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/Malvinas 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.
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