The Royal Navy Reserves are officially welcomed to Lisburn

Pictured in Castle Gardens at the musical concert are: (l-r) Lieutenant Colonel Nick Ilic, Station Commander at Thiepval Barracks; Colonel Mike Murdoch, Deputy Commander at Thiepval Barracks; the Deputy Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor Andrew Ewing; Edwin Poots MLA; the Lord Lieutenant of County Antrim Mrs Joan Christie OBE; Commander Ian Allen, HMS Hibernia; Dr Theresa Donaldson, Chief Executive Designate of Lisburn City and Castlereagh District Council; Lieutenant Colonel Kerry Anderson, HMS Hibernia; Dame Mary Peters DBE, Honorary Captain of HMS Hibernia; Bandmaster WO1 Richard Douglas; the Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson MP and Mr Colin McClintock, Acting Chief Executive, Lisburn City Council.

An open-air concert was hosted in Castle Gardens to officially mark the establishment of HMS Hibernia, Northern Ireland’s Royal Navy Reserves, based at Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn.

As well as volunteers from HMS Hibernia, The Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Joan Christie, OBE and Dame Mary Peters, DBE, Freeman of the City and Honorary Captain of HMS Hibernia were in attendance alongside elected members and representatives from right across the Military and the wider Armed Forces community.

Commander Ian Allen, RD, RNR said that he was delighted with the strong relationship that had grown between HMS Hibernia and Lisburn.

“The Royal Naval Reserve moved from HMS Caroline in 2010 to be re-established as HMS Hibernia in the city of Lisburn. Since re-locating to the city, my unit has enjoyed ever closer links with Lisburn, culminating in this most generous and warm reception held in our honour.

“I look forward to a fruitful and mutually supportive relationship between the Royal Naval Reserve and the City of Lisburn for many years to come,” said Commander Allen.

Following a Reception at South Eastern Regional College, guests were entertained to a musical programme performed by The Band, Pipes and Drums of the Royal Irish Regiment by kind permission of Brigadier R Wooddisse MBE MC Commander 38th (Irish) Brigade.

Speaking during the event, the then Deputy Mayor, Councillor Andrew Ewing said: “Lisburn has a long standing relationship with all our armed forces and it is an honour to welcome HMS Hibernia to our City.

“On behalf of Lisburn City Council I would like to recognise the vital work of Commander Ian Allen and all his Officers within HMS Hibernia and I hope that our association will be a long and happy one.”