HMS Ocean is back home in Plymouth for Christmas
FAMILIES and friends of service personnel aboard HMS Ocean have rejoiced at their homecoming after a seven-and-a-half-month deployment.
There were tears, laughter and excitement from families and friends from the city after their loved ones were away for 225 days.
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REUNIONS: Crowds gather to welcome HMS Ocean's crew home. Above left, Caroline Ashton, Kelly Ashton, PO Tristan Bromley-Smith, Ashton Bromley-Smith and Paul Ashton
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MESSAGES: Above, Leading Seaman Neil Porter with Nikki Porter. Below and right, humorous and welcoming banners
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RETURN: HMS Ocean arrives back in Plymouth. Left, George Betton is excited to see his dad CO Andrew Betton, with Bettina Betton
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TOGETHERNESS: Above, Leading Airman Chris Owens with his partner Sophie. Right, Marine Joseph Staniforth with girlfriend Gemma Strickland. Below, George and Bettina Betton watch the ship return
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FAMILY: Right, Leading Hand Ashley Mugford and Lauren Seymour, with daughter Alicia, 6, and 15-week-old twins Eva & Mya. Below, an excited wave. Below right, Marine engineer Liam Fleet with his sister Elisha Keith. Bottom, Engineering technician Rob Eddie with baby Evie Eddie and parents Wendy and Alan Eddie
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Following pictures by Jon Bayley
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The Royal Navy's helicopter carrier, HMS Ocean, left the UK in April when crew believed they would only be away for seven weeks, but it later turned into seven and a half months.
During that time fifteen babies have been born and two fathers had twins.
One of those fathers was Leading Aircraft Handler Ashley Mugford, aged 29, and his fiance Lauren Seymour, aged 28.
The couple had twin daughters Eva and Mya, who are now 15 weeks old, and they also have another daughter, Alicia, who is aged six.
Lauren said: "It isn't often you can make children's wishes come true and I can do that this Christmas.
"Ashley's arrival back home is the perfect end to a great year."
Ashley said: "I'm really happy to be home for Christmas with all my girls."
HMS Ocean was away as part of the Cougar deployment, designed to ensure that Britain's new Response Force Task Group could be ready to respond to changing world events.
Ocean was also switched to support the UN-backed mission to protect Libyan civilians.
Speaking at the homecoming, HMS Ocean's commanding officer, Captain Andrew Betton, said: "It's wonderful to be back in Plymouth. It's a day we've been looking forward to since the day we left.
"There has been a great deal of uncertainty surrounding our return but we had a job to do and we did it.
"I have been hugely impressed by the fortitude and professional attitude of Ocean's Ship's Company.
"Despite the frequent changes in our programme and the uncertainty of when our mission would end, everyone has got stuck in to do what the Royal Navy does best with good humour, energy and professionalism."
Such good humour was clear in a music video the personnel created after finding out they were due home for Christmas. The crew put their own twist on Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas' music video and mimed along to the original lyrics in a variety of comedy poses.
Since going online a week ago, the crew have attracted well over one million hits on youtube.
Lt Kelly Cleave, who helped to create the video, said: "We were thinking of doing a deployment video so we chose a Christmas song as it's upbeat and everyone knows it.
"The reaction has been phenomenal. On board they don't know how famous they are. The world really is watching."
The Royal Navy humour has even spread to the family and friends of the crew.
PO Richard Joslyn's daughters, Keri, aged 15 and Tia, aged 13, created a banner for their Dad to come home to that read 'Dad I'm pregnant' as a joke for when arrived home.
The girls said: "We made it to wind him up; he's really quiet so he's going to be so embarrassed!"
There were a number of special stories surrounding the homecoming. Nikki Porter was waiting to see her husband return home after only spending three days of married life with him before he was deployed.
Nikki said: "It's been horrible not having him here. Everyone's been asking what married life has been like and I don't know!"
After leaving HMS Ocean, Nikki's husband, Leading Seaman Neil Porter, was reunited with his wife.
"This is the happiest I've ever been - except when I married her," he said.
4 Comments
by igiveup2
Sunday, February 19 2012, 7:29PM
“Lt Kelly Cleave........what a joke, what was she really getting up to while away on ship, trying to destroy a marriage I heard”
by marc1964
Sunday, December 11 2011, 6:12PM
“yes the boat has been away that long but all the crew have flown home in that period so its not as bad as portrayed, The lads on Patrol down south will do longer. The skipper also flew home early as it was reported by the herald he was in London with the chav wife choir, Do any sailors do the whole deployment these days.”
by MickBarb
Saturday, December 10 2011, 9:03PM
“Quote-"Captain Andrew Betton, said: "It's wonderful to be back in Plymouth"-unquote
Welcome back mate but be careful the council don't nick your boat and turn it into student housing”
by OnTheUpAtLast
Saturday, December 10 2011, 11:28AM
“So you wonderful guys and girls are finally safely be home today....
Thank you so much for all you do for us, and thank for your absolutely brilliant video which is just so what Christmas is all about, and has made me laugh out loud and feel all Christmassy!
You can tell just from watching, how much fun you all had making it :)
It will now become part of my Christmas every year!! :)
Wishing you all, the best Christmas ever x x x x”