Ship exercises Freedom of City rights in Exeter

HMS Defender associates parade through centre

A ship adopted by Exeter is exercising Freedom of the City by marching through the city centre.

Destroyer HMS Defender, which launched in 2009, was given the accoldade five years later.

On Saturday a parade, which includes His Majesty’s Band of the Royal Marines, veterans and cadets, alongside a VIP reception will take place in the Guildhall.

Last summer, the then commanding officer, Commander George Storton, met lord mayor Cllr Yolonda Henson and council leader Phil Bialyk and explained the ship’s recent deployments and its state of readiness to respond.

In November Cdr Storton was relieved by Cdr Peter Evans, handing over in Gibraltar and returning the Ship to the UK for some recovery from Operations. Cdr Evans said:“HMS Defender has maintained a close connection with Exeter, which we established when the ship commissioned in 2013. It was a real privilege for the Ship’s Company to march through the city at the last Freedom of the City event in 2014. HMS Defender is preparing for a planned refit period in 2024 and so this is a great time to re-affirm our strong affiliation with the City.

“We’ve kept our Exeter links alive through visits, newsletters and we also still play in the Exeter FC football kit all around the world on our deployments.

“It is a rare opportunity for a Royal Navy ship to exercise the Freedom of a City and to be allowed to march, makes our planned day in Exeter extra special for me and the crew. We are really looking forward to the day, meeting the great people of Exeter and further exploring the city.”