Vice Admiral recalls family links as HMS Liverpool prepares to leave city (GALLERY)
Mar 5 2012 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Echo
* WATCH video of HMS Liverpool arriving back in the city here and formally handing back the Freedom of the City scrolls here
THOUSANDS of people toured HMS Liverpool this weekend as part of the ship’s triumphant homecoming.
Crowds explored the iconic warship, taking photos and talking to crew members, as she was opened to the public.
The Type 42 destroyer, which is being decommissioned after 30 years of service, was expected to be cheered off today in a special ceremony on the Mersey.
Crew members were paraded on the pitch at Anfield during Liverpool’s clash with Arsenal on Saturday. They were presented with a commemorative shield by the club’s managing director Ian Ayre.
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Vice-Admiral Philip Jones told the ECHO the ship was practically a part of his family. His late dad Edgar Jones, from Bebington, was a Cammell Laird’s engineering manager in the team that built HMS Liverpool.
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Liverpool's Town Crier Terry Stubbings calls in the crowds as HMS Liverpool is open to the public for the last time.
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Crowds gather as HMS Liverpool is open to the public for the last time.
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Crowds gather as HMS Liverpool is open to the public for the last time.
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A dad and his sons lean over the railings to get a close look at HMS Liverpool as it opened to the public for the last time.
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Crowds gather as HMS Liverpool is open to the public for the last time.
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Crowds gather as HMS Liverpool is open to the public for the last time.
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A family walk past the Liverpool sign onboard HMS Liverpool as it opens to the public for the last time.
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Mersey ferry the Royal Iris sails past HMS Liverpool is open to the public for the last time.
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Liverpool FC,s Managing Director Ian Ayre(3rd left),presents a silver shield to the crew of HMS Liverpool,on the pitch at half-time during the game against Arsenal.
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The crew of HMS Liverpool on the pitch at half-time during the game against Arsenal,after being presented with a silver shield by LFC,s Managing Director Ian Ayre.
Vice-Admiral Jones, deputy commander-in-chief of the fleet, represented the first sea lord when HMS Liverpool returned the ship’s Freedom of the City scroll to the Lord Mayor.
The former Birkenhead School pupil said: “I served on HMS 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.
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