HMS Iveston

Ship: HMS IVESTON
Pennant No: M1151
Laid Down: 20th October 1952
Built By: Philip & Sons, Dartmouth. Yard Number 1256
Completed: 29th June 1955
Time to Build: 34 months
Commissioned: 16th October 1964 for 1st MSS based Port Edgar
Years Fully Operational: 28
Conversion: January 1963 to August 1964 at Devonport to Minehunter with Deltic Engines

Outline of Operational Career:

• 13th November 1964 Arrived Port Edgar
• 1964 – 1970 Minehunting Tasks, Exercises & Visits, Home Waters
• 29th March 1971 Transferred to 3rd MCMS based Portland
• April 1972 Transferred to 2nd MCMS based Portsmouth
• 1973 – 1981 Type 193M Trials, Exercises & Visits
• 1982 Type 2093 & Sidescan Sonar Trials
• October 1982 – January 1984 Long Refit at Rosyth
• July – August 1984 MSSA 2 Sweep Trials
• May – July 1985 Deployment to Mediterranean, including Toulon
• 1st January 1989 Transferred to 3rd MCMS based Portsmouth
• October – November 1989 3rd MCM Deployment to Mediterranean including Palma
• February – May 1991 Attached to STANAVFORCHAN in Mediterranean
• 1st October 1991 Lent to Fishery Protection Squadron

Significant Events:

• February – May 1968 Operation New Broom, live mine clearance Den Helder to Borkum
• 10th June 1976 Carried out 19 Operation Grenada boardings in one day
• 19th April 1980 Bows badly damaged in berthing incident at Portland
• 1982 Iveston won Plessey Mine Warfare Trophy
• 17 Mar 84 Gavinton collided with Iveston amidships during team sweep - Limited damage
• 1989 Iveston won Plessey Mine warfare Trophy
• 24th October 1989 Damaged by Hubberston during unberthing at Ibiza
• 1992 Iveston won Plessey Mine Warfare Trophy

Paid Off: 21st July 1992
Disposal: 28th August 1993 to Sea Cadets. At May 2014 still in commission with Tilbury Sea Cadets as HQ. September 2014 sold to a Tilbury Harbour Pilot as potential business HQ, but later scrapped as conversion not economic.

VILLAGE

In Co. Durham, East of Consett.

Cropmarks suggest prehistoric settlement, but no other evidence of habitation found.

Dere Street, Roman road leading from Binchester Fort to Hadrian's Wall passes close by.

Coal mining in the area reported from 1440 and greatly expanded during 19th century. Now defunct.

No historical events recorded.

TCA Chairman Ian Barden recalls : I served in HMS IVESTON as an A.B UW2 in 1970/71

Every year the village sent a ‘Village-Signed’ Birthday Card to each, and every member of our crew.

Annually we would secure for the weekend under the Tyne Swing Bridge in Newcastle. On Saturday, coaches would take us all (minus a voluntary Duty Watch), down to the village of Iveston, where the villagers would entertain us to a Buffet and Local Live music evening in the Iveston Village Hall.

It could be a very humbling experience being promoted by the Villagers, for our service; whilst also being a great evening.