HMS York open to public for poignant farewell

HMS York has docked in Hull and will be put out of service in Portsmouth later this month after an eventful 27-year career.

The crew of the 5,200-tonne Type 42 destroyer, the last built, will exercise their Freedom of Entry to York today with a parade starting from York Minster at 11am, which the Navy said was an opportunity for residents to bid a poignant farewell to her crew.

She sailed more than 750,000 miles during her service, including operations against Iraq in 2003 and evacuations from Beirut in the 2006 Lebanon crisis and Benghazi in last year’s Libyan uprising.

Anyone wanting to visit the ship can see her in King George Dock between 10am and 4pm. Commanding Officer Commander Rex Cox called the visit “a celebration and appreciation of the sterling service which this exceptional ship has offered her country”.