IPSWICH: It may have been a bit of a tight squeeze but HMS Quorn was able to glide gracefully through the lock gates of the port before she moored up for a four-day stay in the town.

Two tugs had helped her negotiate the channel of the River Orwell earlier after she had made her way from Portsmouth for the visit.

And now Lieutenant Commander Tim Neild and his 45-strong crew are getting prepared to welcome visitors on board today and over the weekend.

The vessel is affiliated to the town and local dignitaries, members of the Royal Naval Association, the Ipswich Branch of the Royal British Legion, Royal Navy and Korean veterans proudly stood on the dockside at Orwell Quay as she tied up.

The mayor of Ipswich Jane Chambers was also there to greet her and later in the evening the captain of the vessel hosted a reception on board which was attended by a variety of civic leaders.

The 750-tonne Hunt class minehunter has a unique role to play in seeking out explosives at sea and Lt Cdr Neild, who also bought the vessel to Ipswich last year, said he was delighted to be back.

“We’re very proud that HMS Quorn is affiliated with Ipswich and it’s important to keep those links going. So it’s great to be back and we’re so looking forward to welcoming people on board over the weekend.”

Robin Vickery, chairman of the Ipswich Branch for the RBL, said: “We’re very proud that HMS Quorn is affiliated with Ipswich.”

The ship’s football team will be playing a Suffolk police team at Whitton Sports Centre tomorrow and on Sunday Lt Cdr Neild and members of the ship’s company are due to attend St Mary-le-Tower.

Then on Monday HMS Quorn will set sail to continue operational deployment.

n Visiting time on the vessel over the three days is from 1.30pm to 4pm.

n What do you think of the ship’s links with Ipswich? Write to Your Letters, The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk