HMS Wotton

Ship: HMS WOTTON
Pennant No: M1195
Laid Down: 25th June 1954
Built by: Philip & Son, Dartmouth. Yard Number 1275
Completed: 13 June 1957
Time to Build: 36 months
Commissioned: 18th April 1958 for Fishery Protection Squadron (FPS) based Port Edgar
Years Fully Operational: 25

Outline of Operational Career:

• May 1958 Joined Fishery Protection Squadron at Port Edgar
• 1958-1971 UK Fishery Patrols, Exercises and Visits
• 1 Nov 67 Fishery Protection Squadron became 4th MCMS
• 1-16 Oct 68 Took part in trials of Hovercraft in FP Role
• 1 Nov 71 Transferred to 3rd MCMS based Portland
• 1973 Carried out 4 periods of Grenada Patrol (25 days)
• 12 Jul-9 Aug 75 Deep Armed Team Sweep Trials off Gibraltar
• 1975 Carried out 5 periods of Grenada Patrol (42 days)
• 17 Jul–19 Aug 76 Deep Armed Team Sweep Trials off Gibraltar
• 1976 Carried out 3 periods of Grenada Patrol (23 days)
• 20 Feb 77-7 Apr 78 Long Refit at Gibraltar
• 31 May 78 Joined Fishery Protection Squadron at Rosyth
• 1979-84 UK Fishery Patrols, Exercises and Visits
• 12-24 Oct 80 Temporary attachment to STANAVFORCHAN
• 14 Apr 82 Majority of WOTTON’s crew transferred to FARNELLA for service in the Falklands
• 1 Apr 84 Transferred to 10th (RNR) MCMS for London Div
• 21 Apr-20 May 84 Deployment to Gibraltar: NATO & RNR Exercises

Significant Events:

• 1966 Made 4 successful FV arrests in UK waters
• 28 Apr-26 May 68 Took part in Operation NEW BROOM 68
• Jul-Oct 68 Made 4 successful FV arrests in UK waters
• 12-14 Dec 69 Experienced Violent Storm Force 11 in Shetlands
• 6 –7 Jun 1973 Salvaged FV ‘Tina Louise’ off Portland.
• 2 Jul 78 Stood by FV ‘Storgen’ on fire off May Island.
• 6 Mar 84 Firefighting in MV ‘Anna Tholstrup’ in Irish Sea

Paid Off: November 1984
Disposal: Loaned to Woolwich Unit, Sea Cadets 1986-89 19th November 1992 – Sold to Brugse Scheepssloperij for break-up

VILLAGE

.Wotton-under-Edge is a market town about 12 miles South of Stroud in Gloucestershire, near the southern fringe of the Cotswolds.

The first record of the town is in an Anglo-Saxon Royal Charter of King Edmund I, who in AD 940 leased four hides of land in Wudetun to Eadric, who was probably a Thane (local lord), owing allegiance to the King.

The name Wudetun means the enclosure, homestead or village (tun) in or near the wood (wude). The "Edge" refers to the limestone escarpment of the Cotswold Edge which includes the hills of Wotton Hill and Tor Hill that flank the town. I

The holding is listed in the 1086 Domesday Book.

The church of St Mary the Virgin was consecrated in 1283. Nearby Kingswood Abbey was founded in 1139, but all that remains is a 16th-century Cistercian gatehouse. Other historical buildings include the Tudor houses of Newark Park and Owlpen Manor and a medieval former public house the Ancient Ram Inn dates back to 1145.

Wotton under Edge is an excellent base for walking tours of the scenic Cotswolds as the Cotswold Way, a long-distance footpath, passes through the town.

Famous residents include Edward Jenner, the surgeon and scientist who discovered the circulation of blood in the human body and Sir Isaac Pitman, creator of the famous shorthand system.

HMS Wotton visited Bristol from time to time to maintain the link with the town.

VMT to George O’Connor for updates to the previous information.