Gala dinner to mark 50th anniversary of warship's twinning with town

THE last time the town's extended Naval community gathered together was a year ago to remember HMS Jupiter Association chairman Mick 'Jock' O'Neil.

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This Saturday, the Association and Middlesbrough Council will come together for a ceremony at the cenotaph, followed by a gala dinner. The events mark the 50th anniversary of Middlesbrough's twinning with HMS Jupiter.

An eclectic mix of former crew and families, TS Jupiter Sea Cadets and beauty queens have been invited. The search is on for previous contestants of several Madison held Miss HMS Jupiter competitions.

The Leander-class Frigate was the sixth Royal Naval ship to be named after the Roman god of sky, thunder and lightning.

The ship's crest depicts 5 golden bolts of lightning shooting from a large white cloud on a black background.

The original HMS Jupiter was a nippy, honoured 50 gun warship launched in 1778. Thirty years of service covered the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

The following 2 Jupiters were recommissioned coal hulks, similar to HMS Endeavour.