ROYAL NAVY AFFILIATION
Sailors from the Defence Maritime Logistics School (DMLS) represented the Royal Navy in Bridlington on Saturday 29 June as Bridlington marked Armed Forces Day. The Town Council were very happy to be able to officially present the Royal Navy Freedom of Entry and a platoon of 24 trainee Chefs, Stewards, Writers and Supply Chain specialists exercised this privilege by being part of the parade.
They were joined by Commodore Phil Waterhouse, the Naval Regional Commander North and the Isle of Man, two members of their instructional staff and the Commandant of the DMLS, Commander (Cdr) Suzi Nielsen.
Presenting the Freedom of Entry Scroll to Cdr Nielsen, the Mayor of Bridlington, Councillor Liam Dealtry said: “I take great pleasure in welcoming the Royal Navy’s Defence Maritime Logistics School to Bridlington. As a proud Bridlingtonian, and also the Mayor of Bridlington on such a special day like today, it simply doesn’t get any better.”
The DMLS is based at HMS Raleigh and is the modern-day equivalent of HMS Ceres; the shore establishment in Wetherby near Bridlington where members of the Supply and Secretariat branch were trained between 1946 and 1958.
Cdr Nielsen said: “We are enormously grateful to the Town Council for bestowing this honour on the Royal Navy. The sailors who took part are all new to the Service and are part-way through their specialist training with us at the DMLS. For many this was the first time they had taken part in a public parade and it is something that enjoyed immensely.”
While in Bridlington, the sailors visited the Royal National Lifeboat Institution where they presented a cheque for £500. The money was raised by donations from customers eating in the Catering Services Realistic Working Environment; a mock-up of a galley and dining room on-board ship, where trainee chefs hone their skills by preparing meals for their fellow trainees and members of staff.
The Local Government Act of 1972 allows a Borough or City Council to admit “persons of distinction and persons who have in the opinion of the Council, rendered eminent services to the city, borough or royal borough” as Honorary Freeman. This rare privilege is the highest honour that can be bestowed.
The affiliation between DMLS and Bridlington also offers historic ties to the original HMS CERES, situated in Wetherby which recruited many people from Bridlington at the time.
Although based at HMS Raleigh, in Cornwall, the DMLS is part of the wider Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration, and provides training to all Maritime Officers and Ratings of the Logistics specialisation including Catering Services, Supply Chain and Personnel Administration. In addition to providing training to the Royal Navy, the DMLS trains Royal Marines, members of the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and the Sea Cadet Corps. The Defence Maritime Logistics School (DMLS) is currently located in Cornwall and is to train Naval personnel as Logisticians prepared for the maritime environment in order for them to serve on operations at sea. This covers all Ranks and Rates as well as a broad number of professions such as Chefs, Stewards and Supply Chain specialists. While currently located in Torpoint, Cornwall the School will soon be moving to a new Tri-Service location at Worthy Down, just outside of Winchester.
click the picture above to see the album of pictures from throughout the day