Reunion Report - Plymouth 2025

The 2025 Service of Remembrance and evening reunion was back in Plymouth this year and was well attended by nearly 120 Association members and families of the fallen. This short video has the highlights of the Service of Remembrance.

Evening Reunion Overview

In a new venue, organised by shipmate Stephen “Wyatt” Earp with the assistance of our local Plymouth helpers, the Officers wardroom at RMB Stonehouse was a hit. “BZ Ardent Committee and helpers. A most successful weekend. The venue was great, no big round tables so you could speak to each other. The absence of a noisy disco did much to add to the ability to engage in conversation. Only down side for me was the catering.”

Committee note: The catering team have already had our feedback will need to revisit this issue before next year.

Pete read out a wonderful message from Peter and Renee Hanson who could not attend this year, it was great reminder of why the Association exists“…It was back in August 1982 and we were invited to the Remembrance Service, it was to be the last time all the 'Ships Company' would be together before deployment elsewhere. Without knowing anyone we decided to go to the service, everyone was strangers to us and we were seated with Kevin Johnson being 2 yorkshire men, we soon broke the ice. Everyone made us feel at home and welcomed us. The following year we were invited to the HMS Ardent Reunion, and decided to give it a go and the rest is history and so over the years covering thousands of miles we met some wonderful people.

We had the good fortune to have good health and keep in Employment. I wish to make a special mention to Len and Tony who with foresight and determination formed the Ardent Association which over the years was a comfort to the Hansons in their grief of losing Shaun. Not forgetting Pete and Ritchie who have continued running the Association and with modern technology have brought it forward the past 20 years.

Regards to everyone, this is not goodbye. I shall sit in my easy chair and keep interested with the coming and goings of the Association.”