Royal Navy leads HMS Pickle to her new home in Hull

24/09/2015

The Royal Navy will lead a replica of the historic schooner HMS Pickle into her new home in Hull tomorrow (Friday 25 September).

Patrol vessel HMS Explorer will escort the recently- restored HMS Pickle – the first ship to bring news of Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar to the UK – into Hull Marina.

Explorer – which is based in the marina - will rendezvous with HMS Pickle three miles up river before leading her into her berth.

Lieutenant Anthony Kane, 29, Explorer’s Commanding Officer, said: “This will be one of my proudest moments in my Royal Navy career. Explorer is the first ship I have commanded and to be involved in an event such as this is fantastic - HMS Pickle’s arrival is creating a lot of interest in the area.”

  

 The replica of the historic schooner HMS Pickle

Explorer is the first ship I have commanded and to be involved in an event such as this is fantastic
Lieutenant Anthony Kane, Commanding Officer of HMS Explorer

Today Pickle Night is still a big event in the Navy’s calendar, being celebrated each year on November 6.

Among Explorer’s crew is Chief Petty Officer Paul Tock who hails from Hull. The 46-year-old is among five full-time sailors on board.

HMS Explorer is one of 14 patrol vessels are attached to universities to give students an understanding of the Royal Navy’s global role. Explorer is linked to the universities of Hull, Sheffield, Leeds and York.

Last month the vessel returned from a two-month deployment to the Baltic where she flew the flag for the UK at various events across ten countries. 

A total of 50 students spent ten days each on board as part of their navigation and sea awareness training.

Source: Royal Navy.