There was much excitement, tears of joy and laughter when families gathered to welcome home their loved ones onboard the submarine HMS Vengeance as she returned home from patrol which included the festive season.
The Royal Navy vessel and her 140-strong crew were re-united with family, friends and loved-ones at her home port of Faslane.
For the last couple of years families have not been able to come together to welcome their loved ones home due to Covid-19 restrictions.
However now, with the rules relaxed, mums, dads, brothers, sisters, partners, and children headed to Rhu to catch a glimpse of one of the giant ballistic-missile submarines go past.
The families, who had travelled from all over the UK, enjoyed rolls with sausage and bacon to keep them warm as they waited and gift bags were handed out to the children to keep them amused.
After waving banners and cheering as the submarine passed by, the welcoming party of over 200 people, headed up to the base to be reunited with their loved ones.
They were hosted in the Warrant Officers and Senior Rates Mess, where some refreshments and entertainment were laid on for everyone while they waited.
Jim Perks, Commodore Submarine Service said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the families onto the Naval Base to welcome home HMS Vengeance after what has been a challenging period at sea, including being away from home over the festive period.
“We continue to ask a lot of our people and they consistently rise to those challenges.
“Having the families back on base for the first time since the start of Covid restrictions definitely makes the homecoming more special.”
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