Families' joy at Ark Royal's return

By Jake Lynch
In Portsmouth

It took just under an hour for HMS Ark Royal to weigh anchor in Portsmouth harbour and draw up alongside the naval dock.

In keeping with tradition, the hundreds of crew members who had spent 126 days on board lined the walkways.

In a more modern ritual, families down on the quayside spoke to them by mobile phone to help them pick out loved ones in the crowd.

Among the crew members first off the vessel, was Michael Davidson, from Newcastle, who said it was "champion" to be back.

"I can see a tear in my daddy's eye," he added.

Rain failed to dampen the jubilant atmosphere

His mother Maria was just relieved to have him back in one piece after what she described as "a very worrying time".

HMS Ark Royal was the flagship of Britain's naval task force in the war on Iraq and the servicemen and women on board performed several crucial roles in the campaign.

Marine expeditionary units based on the aircraft carrier, spearheaded some of the initial raids to seize the al-Faw peninsula in the south of the country.

Royal Navy helicopters from her flight deck ferried supplies to the front line while others stood guard over the assembled might of the US and British fleets, protecting them from any surprise attack.

But to many of the thousands who braved a damp and chilly day to welcome the vessel back home, the work those forces did and the risks they ran feel as though they are not being properly acknowledged.

There was to be no official parade for example, and Prime Minister Tony Blair did not in the end choose to come to Portsmouth himself.

Richard Mourie was out early to bag a place on the sea wall where the best views are to be enjoyed.

He had a special reason for being there.

Unfurling a banner weighted down with rocks against the strong sea breeze which read simply "Ahoy Paul Cook", Mr Mourie was waiting to welcome home his nephew, who is executive officer on board Ark Royal.

No weapons

Asked if he believed enough fuss was being made of those returning from war, he said "not at all", and lamented the objections of some in politics and the media whom he accused of "climbing on a band wagon".

The main stated aim of the campaign was to find chemical, biological and possibly nuclear weapons, but no such weapons have been found.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, who was in Portsmouth on Saturday, said he remained "absolutely confident" that they would.

It's one reason why a war which deeply divided public opinion remains controversial, and perhaps one factor in the relatively low-key atmosphere surrounding Saturday's homecoming.

To Rosemary Watts, who had come from Weymouth to see the Ark Royal, that is wrong.

"I think they did a good job," she said. "And I think we should be here to support them. If Blair won't, we will."