News that the former Royal Navy minesweeper HMS Bronington has sunk at Birkenhead has brought back memories of its association with Pembrokeshire and its royal links.

One of the famous ‘Ton’ class of minesweepers, several of which were named after Pembrokeshire communities, Bronington visited the Milford Haven waterway on several occasions. On one of these visits her commanding officer was HRH The Prince of Wales, and he was pictured on the ship’s bridge when alongside at the Carr Jetty, Pembroke Dock.

Bronington (pennant number M1115) was laid down in May 1951 at the Beverley (Yorkshire) yard of Cook, Welton and Gemmell Ltd, and completed in June 1954. She was renamed and commissioned in September 1954 as HMS Humber for the RNR, based at Hull.

She reverted to Bronington in May 1958 with the Royal Navy and was commanded by Lieutenant HRH The Prince of Wales from February 1976 to December 1977, visiting Pembroke Dock during that period.

She served for 31 years fully operational and was paid off on June 30, 1988. The following year she transferred to a development corporation for display as a preserved warship and later transferred to an historic warships trust at Birkenhead as part of a maritime tourist attraction which subsequently closed.

Memories were revived of the visit made by Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust team members in 2009 when they were given access to Bronington.

The photograph recalls that visit and includes Alan Ross, Steve Thompson, Mike Hurley and John Evans, of the Sunderland Trust, together with a representative of the Port of Liverpool.