Tricky navigation

With the Duke class Type 23 Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose having made another welcome return to the South Esk, a regular reader recalls the occasion when an earlier naval vessel of the same name visited Perth Lower Harbour.

“The wooden-hulled Ton class coastal minesweeper was the sea-going tender of Tay Division RNVR,” he says. “She sailed upstream beneath the Tay Rail Bridge on the evening tide of May 9, 1958.

“A press report described the event: ‘HMS Montrose left Dundee on an unusual voyage. At 6.30 p.m. she left Eastern Wharf but instead of heading out to sea as usual she headed upriver towards Perth.’

“At that time, she was only the third Royal Navy ship to have made such a journey. The previous year two inshore minesweepers HMSS Brinkley and Burley, based at Port Edgar on the Firth of Forth, made a similar courtesy visit.

“Her size made navigation tricky and she was piloted by Perth Harbourmaster, Captain Harry Smith. The crew comprised six officers and 30 ratings, all members of Tay Division RNVR under the command of Commander P. Sime who, the following day, called on Lord Provost John Buchan at Perth City Chambers. The Lord Provost later visited the ship which was also open to the public.

“On the Saturday evening a cocktail party was held on board attended by civic dignitaries. The crew were given free admission to dancing at Perth City Hall. Next day HMS Montrose made her way downriver on the morning tide.

“The background to the name HMS Montrose is an interesting one and goes back quite a long way. One of the early post-second World War sea-going tenders to take the name HMS Montrose, was HMS Chediston, which was built by Montrose Shipyard Ltd and cradled under cover, close to the spot where the current holder of the name was berthed over the past weekend.”

Perhaps other readers will be able to add to the recollections of the Perth visit.

Services still take place at Restenneth Priory. Here are some church members on a recent visit. See above for more details.