The HMS Ardent Association congratulates our patron, the Duchess of Gloucester, who has been made a Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter on St George’s Day, the 23 April 2024.

It is with deep regret and sadness that we announce the passing of shipmate Ken Bonning.

After ten years of leading T.S. Ardent ( Bollington and Macclesfield Sea Cadets) the 29th January 2024 was Lieutenant (SCC) Karen Black’s last night in command handing over to Sub Lieutenant (SCC) Alex Palfreyman.

It is with sadness and regret to announce the passing of our shipmate David "Buster" Brown recently in Birmingham.

Around the UK ARDENT’s remembered our fallen shipmates on Remembrance Sunday. Wreaths were laid in Sally Port, Portsmouth, Poole and on Plymouth How were the grandson of ex-Antelope crew Bob laid the ARDENT wreath. Young Jack place the wreath on the Falklands memorial on behalf of our Association and for all those others of the Naval Service who were in San Carlos Water on 21 May 1982.

ARDENT survivor, John Foster, stands proud next to his son Matthew who recently passed out of Britannia Royal Naval College after transferring from being a Rating having originally joined the Navy in 2015.

This year's the Armed Forces Day National Event was centred on Falmouth, Cornwall and provided the stage for the whole of the UK to show support for our Armed Forces and some ARDENT’s were there to take part.

Shipmate Jon Major joined locals, fellow Falklands veterans, and the crew of HMS Medway to to celebrate Liberation Day. HMS Medway is currently in the islands covering for her older sister, HMS Forth, which is currently undergoing a refit in Gibraltar.

This year ARDENT’s headed to the National Memorial Arboretum near Derby for our annual service of remembrance, the Ardent anchor memorial becoming the centre piece of our service.

Shipmates Stephen Earp and David Serrell and their partners joined hundreds of visitors for the first Buckingham Palace Garden Party of King Charles III’s reign on Wednesday, 3 May 2023, as guests of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester to represent the HMS Ardent Association.

Army Cadets from Bridgwater Platoon gathered on Thursday March 30th for a ceremony to mark the rededication of the memorial to a former Cannington cadet, Andrew Barr.

HMS Ardent survivor, WEM (0) 1 Kevin Buck Ryan, recently made a trip back to the Falklands since his last visit in March 1984. He has recorded the visit as a mini journal which he is happy to share on our site.

As a tribute to the Falklands 40th anniversary members of the HMS Ardent Association, including family members of the fallen, marched as one platoon at the Cenotaph.

The children of St Edward’s School in Poole held a special assembly to remember and reflect on the contribution and sacrifices made by service men and women. They also paid special tribute to Stephen Ford who was a pupil at their school growing up around Constitution Hill.

The HMS Ardent Association is probably the oldest of the Falkland Conflict Associations and has met every year for the past 40 years. It not only represents the survivors but the families of the fallen and all those who served on her previously. It was felt that to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falkland Conflict and the formation of our own Association it would be a fitting tribute to our fallen shipmates to have a dedicated platoon at this years London Cenotaph march past on Remembrance Sunday .

Queen Elizabeth understood the sacrifices by the men and women of the armed services and the pain of bereaved families. In addition to awarding military honours, she introduced the Elizabeth Cross. It was the first medal to which the Queen put her name. Instituted in 2009, it gives special recognition to the families of those who have died on military operations or as a result of terrorism, since 1948.

In a major change for the Association we are looking at holding the service of remembrance in the National Memorial Arboretum, at our remembrance Anchor, on Saturday 27 May 2023.

The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne College held the Falklands 40th service of remembrance on Sunday 12 June 2022. Shipmate Nigel Langhorn shared some photographs of the event.

With over 220 people in the church of St Nicholas in HMS Drake the HMS Ardent Association, led by the ships patron HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, paid tribute to the 22 fallen shipmates who were killed in action on the 21 May 1982 during the Battle for Falkland Sound.