DURING the recent visit of HMS Monmouth, the Commanding Officer, Commander Gordon Ruddock, took time off to help unveil a model of HMS Calder in Monmouth Museum.

The model was purchased by Royal Naval Association member John Huckle, who served on HMS Calder during the Second World War.

He asked if one of the cadets from TS Ross and Monmouth Unit could assemble and paint a model of this ship, so Able Cadet James Phillips constructed and painted it, he also assisted with lowering the ensign at the unveiling.

The model, with a display about the Sea Cadet Corps, was allocated a display cabinet in the entrance area to the Nelson Museum.

Discussion with acting curator Sue Miles, the RNA represented by Chris Rogers and the Commanding Officer of TS Ross and Monmouth, Lieutenant Adrian Gittens spawned the idea of asking a representative from the ship to perform a short unveiling ceremony after the Freedom Parade. Members of the RNA and the sea cadet unit were there to witness the unveiling.

The ship was named after Admiral Sir Robert Calder, Bt. KCB who played a key role in upsetting Napoleon's grand invasion plans and was also one of the 'band of brothers', a phrase used by Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson to refer to the captains under his command just prior to and at the Battle of the Nile in 1798.

John Huckle is to receive the Arctic Star at the memorial to HMS Monmouth on 1st November in St Mary's Church.

The medal is a retrospective award given for any length of service above the Arctic Circle.