Prego to arrange huge party to say farewell to the Ark Royal

Prego Events, based in Halifax, has won a contract to organise the finale for HMS Ark Royal’s 600 guests after the formal onboard ceremonies are completed on March 11. The party will have a Mardi Gras theme and the team from Prego will travel to Portsmouth four days before the event to begin preparations.

Leeds adopted the Ark Royal in November 1941, but it was torpedoed and sunk just days later. However, local citizens got together and raised more than £9m for a replacement ship.

Married couple Sarah Petty and Jamie Horsley set up Halifax-based Prego in November 2005 and their other clients have included Ford and BSkyB.

Mrs Petty said: “Winning this contract means the world to us. We know that HMS Ark Royal has strong links with Yorkshire and to be asked to organise an event of this size and grandeur is a great honour.”

Mr Horsley said the contract was only confirmed on February 22.

“The idea is to turn an empty warehouse at the docks in Portsmouth into a New Orleans street scene in just two-and-a-half weeks. I am confident we can do it and that the end result will be spectacular”.

Prego specialises in organising themed parties for private and corporate clients. They build all the props themselves including a recent replica of a Venetian Bridge, a giant anchor and dozens of oversize butterflies.

The Queen made a farewell visit to the Ark Royal in Portsmouth in November at an event held to mark its 25th anniversary in service.

The ship is being decommissioned early and the Harrier force cut as part of eight per cent Government defence cuts, a move that has been criticised by several retired admirals.

The aircraft carrier is the fifth Ark Royal and saw active service in the Balkans and second Gulf War.

The sum of £9m raised by Leeds citizens in the 1940s came from small contributions from children, up to figures of £250,000 from local businesses. A huge march to raise funds also took place on the Headrow. The ship and its crew were granted the Freedom of Entry into Leeds in 1973.