THE Royal Navy played host to scores of youngsters who were all invited to meet the crew of HMS Coventry while it was moored on the River Dart at Dartmouth.
The type 22 frigate, captained by Chris Snow, 40, arrived in port on Saturday morning pulled by two tugs, 'Faithful' and 'Forceful.' Harbour pilot, Capt David White, was also on board while harbourmaster, Capt Simon Dowden, oversaw the procedure in the harbour launch.
The recruitment drive visit was hailed as a great success by Capt Snow, who said: 'It all went very well. The visitors were taken all round the ship, and I think managed to see just about everything.
'The young people were very interested in the helicopter and the missiles.
'Hopefully the visit will have sparked an interest in some of them, and they will eventually join us.'
Capt Snow explained that the visit was aimed at two groups of young people – those who would pursue other careers but would now have some knowledge of the Royal Navy and those youngsters who were already considering a career in the service, which would offer them a life of adventure, travel and variety.
Also enjoying the visit were the crew and officers on board HMS Coventry who had been in Plymouth while the ship underwent maintenance.
Capt Snow said that those who went ashore and spent time in Dartmouth said everybody had been 'thoroughly hospitable' to them.
'They all had a very good time' he added.
HMS Coventry sailed on Tuesday morning on her way to an exercise off the north of Scotland.