Commander Gavin Pritchard, captain of HMS Kent, telephoned the Banner on Friday evening to confirm arrangements for the weekend.

He said: ‘We are underway at the moment towards Arran. I have just finished debriefing after an exercise on the submarine commanders Perishers course. I will be coming ashore briefly tomorrow morning to meet my family and escort them on board.’

Perishers courses were based in Brodick Bay for many years with the trainee submarine commanders staying in the Douglas Hotel where the Perishers Bar was dedicated to them.

Gavin has many close connections with the Island and last October the Banner carried a feature on the duties of HMS Kent in Iraqi waters and a visit to the vessel by Defence Secretary Des Browne. Gavin is the son of Kenneth and Gretta Pritchard who own Laurelbank on the Newton shore in Lochranza and grandson of Reita Murray, long time resident of Lochranza but now enjoying a new lease of life in Montrose House, Brodick. He has spent many years holidaying in Lochranza and first learned to row and sail there as a child which started his lifelong love of the sea.

He joined the Royal Navy in 1982 and served on submarines Churchill, Otus, Talent, Turbulent and Tireless before taking command of the type 23 frigate HMS Kent in January 2006.

Commander Pritchard told the Banner: ‘The Royal Navy has a rolling programme of visits around the country. The ship was originally going to Edinburgh but we are coming to Arran instead. It is a public relations exercise and my connections to Arran are not the only reason for coming here.’

HMS Kent returned from Iraq to her home base at Portsmouth on 13 December and was due to depart from Arran last Monday to take part in Exercise Neptune Warrior, a joint UK and NATO project.

This vessel is the 12th ship to bear the name HMS Kent, with the first being launched in 1652.

During the stay in Brodick Bay, the crew had an action-packed programme including playing an Arran select football team at Ormidale Park and participating in the Machrie Bay charity open golf tournament.

Commander Pritchard said: ‘Unfortunately, anchoring in Brodick Bay is as close as we can get to Arran due to shallow waters and space at Brodick pier, but we hope to spend much of our free time on the Island meeting the locals and enjoying everything it has to offer.’

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