Norwich boat enthusiast salutes his father with model ship

16 September 2009

IT is the ship which brought his father home to safety and now a boating enthusiast has recreated a miniature version of the boat which ferried Royal Marines home from the Suez Crisis.

Richard Thurston, 42, a member of Norwich Model Club, is set to launch his nine-and-a-half replica foot replica of the HMS Ocean aircraft carrier, which took nine months to build, at Eaton Park on Sunday.

This model is dedicated in memory of his late father, Raymond Thurston, who was a Royal Marine with 42 Commando and who travelled home on HMS Ocean after being sent to help out with the Suez Canal Crisis in 1956.

He was among 590 marines who were taken home by the vessel, stopping off at Malta on the way back.

Mr Thurston was given the mould for HMS Ocean from another model boat enthusiast, Robbie Robertson a sailor, now living in Portsmouth, but who also served on the ship.

From that he produced a shell and gradually built up the model ship.

The finished ship has 186 lights and there are battle sounds, working anchors, two working radars, smoke unit, helicopter sounds and Morse code lights. The sound circuit board for the ship is one of only three of its kind and was designed by Canadian, David Harrison.

Mr Thurston, from Three Mile Lane, New Costessey, said: “I have replicated my model based upon exactly how it was when it returned from Suez, using photographs and the internet for research. This will be one of the largest models at the boat club.

“I am really pleased and proud of the finished ship. It has taken a lot of work.”

He also says November 6 has proved to be a significant date while building the ship.

He said: “My father joined the Royal Marines on November 6, 1951, went into the Suez Crisis on November 6, 1956 and sadly passed away on November 6, 2001. I also started building the ship on November 6 2008, so it seems quite a spooky coincidence.”