It's Ship Ahoy !
Take a look at the £1billion warship which has formed an official connection with Scarborough.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson returned to Scarborough – the town he was born and brought up – to announce that HMS Duncan will be affiliated with the resort. It is hoped that the cutting edge Type 45 destroyer will visit South Bay when Scarborough hosts the national Armed Forces Day celebrations in 2020.
Mr Williamson said: “The ship’s new affiliation will not just honour this great town right across the world, but also pay tribute to thousands of Yorkshire men and women who have served in Armed Forces.”
The Defence Secretary recalled childhood memories of his home town as he returned to announce Scarborough’s affiliation with HMS Duncan.
Mr Williamson went to East Ayton Primary, Raincliffe School and Scarborough Sixth Form College before leaving the area to go to university in Bradford and then starting a career in business before moving into politics.
“I always remember as a child, coming down the steps by the Futurist and seeing HMS Fearless as she sat in the South Bay,” he said during a speech.
“That was a real inspiration for so many youngsters who maybe wanted to go on and join the the Royal Navy in the future.
“But it also symbolises the connection between Scarborough and the Royal Navy.”
Mr Williamson also paid tribute to the next generation of recruits, having watched the sea cadets band play to welcome him to the Scarborough announcement.
He added: “We have so many people in the cadets – whether it is the sea cadets, air cadets or Army cadets, and they all contribute to what becomes our Armed Forces.”
He brought his young daughter Grace to the official announcement at Scarborough Lifeboat Station last Friday and said: “It’s always lovely to come back to Scarborough. I have so many members of my family who still live in Scarborough, so any opportunity to come back, it’s great to be able to do so, especially over Christmas time.
“It’s nice to be able to do a little something for my home town, where I was born and raised.
“When Robert (Goodwill, the local MP) first mentioned the idea of Scarborough being affiliated to a naval vessel, it was certainly something I was pleased to be able to make happen, and the Royal Navy was also very pleased as well.”