Practically family, says Royal Navy top brass

Mar 7 2012 Birkenhead News

Practically family, says Royal Navy top brass

WIRRAL-BORN Royal Navy Vice Admiral Philip Jones, deputy commander-in-chief of the fleet, told the News the ship was practically part of his family.

His late father Edgar Jones, from Bebington, was Cammell Laird’s engineering manager in the team that built HMS Liverpool.

The former Birkenhead School pupil said: “I served on Fearless in the Falklands War and we returned to Portsmouth in July 1982. My mum and dad came down to meet me to make sure their son was back home alive.

“While they were waiting, HMS Liverpool had just been delivered from Lairds and the commanding officer invited them aboard for a cup of tea.

“So, in a sense, this ship was bound to be part of my Navy life. I jumped at the chance when the First Sea Lord asked if I could represent him on Liverpool’s last visit here.”