In a ceremony in HMNB Portsmouth, Commander Mark Anderson Royal Navy has assumed Command of the Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, succeeding Commander Robert Pedre Royal Navy
Commander Anderson, whose career highlights have included commanding both HMS Mersey and HMS Clyde, is HMS Richmond’s eleventh Commanding Officer.
The outgoing Captain, Commander Pedre had been in command for 27 months, longer than any previous Commanding Officer.
During his tenure he oversaw a number of key milestones in the life of the Ship, including generation from a significant refit period in Devonport, through to Operational Sea Training, and finishing with a successful 7 month deployment to the South Atlantic which saw the Ship receive a personal commendation from Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands
On leaving the Ship, Commander Pedre, a keen James Bond fan was taken away in an Aston Martin, kindly loaned to the Ship by Harwoods of Chichester whilst the whole of the Ship’s Company turned out on the upper deck to wave him off using the Royal Navy’s traditional “man and cheer Ship”.
A short time later Commander Anderson gathered the Ship’s company in the hangar to highlight his priorities for the Ship’s future.
Commenting on his assumption of Command, Commander Anderson said, “It is a great privilege to become the eleventh Captain of HMS Richmond. I am very much looking forward to leading my Ship’s Company through a successful regeneration process and ultimately back to operations”.
HMS Richmond is currently conducting an in depth post deployment maintenance period following which the Ship will begin an intensive period of trials and operational sea training before returning to the front line.
[mappress] Press Release, April 16, 2014; Image: Royal Navy