Middlesbrough’s 50-year links to HMS Jupiter to be celebrated

A celebration is planned to mark a relationship of 50 years between a North East town and a Royal Navy ship, bringing together a community that includes former crew members and beauty queens.

HMS Jupiter became Middlesbrough’s adopted warship in 1975, with many visits to the town over the decades commemorating the vessel’s role, before she was decommissioned in 1992.

Organisers are urging people with a link to the ship to help them mark the 50th anniversary of the official twinning, including a callout to former Miss HMS Jupiters – a beauty pageant featuring local girls.

Celebrations will include a gala dinner, with a laying of wreaths at Middlesbrough’s Cenotaph attended by the town’s mayor.

The event is due to take place on 25 October, with Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke and local Sea Cadets expected to join a the ceremony at the Cenotaph.

HMS Jupiter Association secretary, Ken Williams, who was on board from 1977 to 1985, said Middlesbrough had always made the crew feel welcome during their visits.

“All of us who served on Jupiter over the 25 years the ship was in commission have very fond memories of our visits,” he said.

“We’d love to hear from anyone who has memories of her visits, especially ex-ship’s company and ex-TS Jupiters, who were the local Sea Cadets affiliated to Jupiter.”

The Clyde-built Leander-class frigate was launched in 1967 and was in service around the globe, making her final visit to Middlesbrough in April 1992.