SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Any SL thoughts/opinions/whatever on the loss of Leeds' own ship Ark Royal?

Here is the BBC piece about the lengthy association of Leeds with the ship -http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leeds/hi/pe ... 530169.stm

'tis a sad day. I spent 6 months on the 4th Ark Royal.

Chrism wrote: 'tis a sad day. I spent 6 months on the 4th Ark Royal. I remember just one parade when the crew 'exercised' their Freedom of the City, marcing en-mass down the Heradrow. Quite a spectacle, wonder if it can be repeated, even if as a final tribute?

A sad day and desperate times indeed.

This might be a daft question but why are they not naming one of the new ones Ark Royal and the association can continue?Or as part of the cuts is the new one to be sponsored by McDonalds?

They could call it the Ark Royale.

anthonydna wrote: They could call it the Ark Royale. Very,very good.

On a more serious note i think these cuts will actually make this country incapable of any effective overseas deployment should the need arise,might not have been such a bad thing with Iraq but certainly not so with the Balkans and Sierra Leone etc.This wil make us less than a bit part player on the world stage,and frankly makes us look a mockery being a permanent member of the UN security council,no bite to go with the bark.Just as importantly is the expertise and experience that will be lost that will make this country even more dependent on overseas technology,and the higher price that this will entail in the long run.We will be like Belgium but with nukes,was one quote i read yesterday.Not wishing to rattle any political sabres but it seems that the party which is big on defence is the one that is making the same cuts as it did in 1982 (though even more severe this time),and on both occasions these cuts have come after a labour goverment has got us into debt.    

One of the strangest decisions for me to get my head around is the building of two new aircraft carriers yet to scrap the Harrier jets ! Wouldn't it make sense to keep the Harriers for the new ships until the joint strike aircraft is ready for service ? The barmy idea of having French pilots and aircraft on British ships makes a mockery of the Royal Navy. Suppose that the Argentinians fancy another crack at the Falklands, would French pilots be willing to put their lives on the line for British interests ? I can't see it myself. The new breed of never worked in the real world politicians do not have a clue. Rather than up our foreign aid to other countries when we are supposed to be skint, give the money to our armed forces so that they can do their jobs with the right equipment and protection.Regards.