City to mark ties with decommissioned Ark Royal as Lord Mayor’s room renamed

Yesterday the Lord Mayor’s Blue Room was renamed the HMS Ark Royal Room as a testament to the close relationship between the city and the ship.

The room is currently home to the HMS Ark Royal bell and a number of other artefacts from the ship, including the Freedom of the City scroll.

The Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, officially opened the room.

Lord Mayor of Leeds Coun Jim McKenna said: “HMS Ark Royal has always held a strong place in many Leeds citizens’ hearts, and it seemed fitting that we name this room after her.”

Coun Keith Wakefield, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “Leeds has had a real connection with HMS Ark Royal since 1942, when residents raised an incredible £9m to restore the ship after it was torpedoed.

“The ship’s recent decommissioning was a tremendously sad loss and a body-blow to the city’s immense pride in what has been a long-standing and very warm relationship.

“We have been wanting to do something to keep the name of HMS Ark Royal alive and we felt that this may be the first step towards that goal.”