HMS Calliope (shore establishment)

HMS "Calliope" is a training centre and 'stone frigate' of the Royal Naval Reserve, located in Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne.

History

A Tyne based division of the Royal Naval Reserve was established in 1905, and used the old "Calypso" class third class cruiser HMS "Calliope" as its drill ship. She served until 1951, when she was sold for scrapping, and was replaced by the "Falmouth" class sloop HMS "Falmouth". "Falmouth" was renamed "Calliope", and was berthed at Elswick. She served until 1968, when she too was sold for scrapping, after the Tyne Division moved ashore to a new Headquarters, which retained the name HMS "Calliope". In October 1985 it was awarded a place on the Roll of Honorary Freeman of the City of Newcastle

Present day

Currently located next to the Gateshead Millennium Bridge HMS "Calliope" is the principal Training Centre for the North and North East of England, and serves as the home base for some 200 reservists. Members take part in local representational activities and Remembrance Day parades in Newcastle and Gateshead. A number of tenders have been assigned to the unit over the years, including the River class minesweeper HMS "Orwell" and the "Archer" class patrol vessel HMS "Example".

Affiliated units

*Northumbria and Hull's University Royal Naval Units
*Durham School CCF
*Newcastle Grammar School

References

*Colledge
* [http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.2781 HMS Calliope at the Royal Navy's website]