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Home > Latest News > 2008 > 7 > 10 >

HMS Crane adopt baby Cranes!

 

Navy veteran group the HMS Crane association have offered to help support the development WWT's newly hatched cranes.

 

Roy Lidgett at WWT SlimbridgeThe association of retired navy personnel were so delighted to hear about the Crane School at WWT Slimbridge that they visited to hear more about WWT's plans and meet the cranes in 2007. They took part in a Crane School lesson, and met the aviculturalists responsible for the welfare of the young birds. To commemorate the occasion they presented WWT Slimbridge with a copy of their ship's crest and a commemorative plate.

 

When the group heard that new cranes were being introduced to the school this July they quickly offered to help support the cranes 'rations and keep' and as a mark of thanks WWT Slimbridge have named two cranes Jack and Suzy in honour of the HMS Crane.

 

Gloucestershire resident, Roy Lidgett, who served on HMS Crane from 1957 to 1959 says 'When we heard about WWT's plans to reintroduce Cranes to the UK after hundreds of years of extinction on these shore we were keen to get involved. WWT and their partners need to raise funds for rearing facilities - adopting a Crane is just one of the ways ordinary people like us can help'.

 

Roy added 'It is important that organisations like the HMS Crane Association to show support a charity which is helping save habitats around the world for future generations. Sir Peter Scott, the founder of WWT served in the navy during the Second World War and was responsible for our camouflage!'

 

HMS Crane had an illustrious career in the 22 years it served in many World War II campaigns including the Battle of the Atlantic alongside home waters and the far east. Commissioned in 1943 she was decommissioned in until 1963.

 

The HMS Crane Association was formed 10 years ago to keep the many crew members who served over the years in touch with each other and forms part of the network of ex-naval service people.