CONNECTIONS with the Royal Navy were strengthened when The Royal School was visited by two officers from HMS Diamond.

Since the school was founded by naval officers in 1840 and follows the diamond model of education, an affiliation with HMS Diamond – a Type 45 destroyer based in Portsmouth – seemed the perfect match.

Commander Hember and Lieutenant Bambro visited both the junior and senior schools and talked to pupils about various aspects of naval life, including work with aircraft as well as vessels.

They spoke about the different parts of the ship, such as the radar and aircraft hangar and said there have been 13 HMS Diamonds in the history of the Royal Navy.

Cdr Hember and Lt Bambro also described the diverse nature of operations, from removing chemical weapons in Syria to patrolling the Indian Ocean and Gulf in the fight against pirates.

A lively question and answer session followed with pupils asking everything from whether they had been involved in combat or been shot at, to the size of cabin, food and different uniforms.

the officers were presented with a Royal School teddy bear to accompany them on their future voyages, on behalf of the school,

The school plans to visit HMS Diamond in the spring to understand its cutting edge technology and experience life on board on a destroyer.

School principle Mrs Anne Lynch, said: “It is wonderful the officers from HMS Diamond wish to be officially linked with The Royal School.

“It is a great way to allow our pupils to connect with the Royal Navy and reflect on our naval heritage as well as our diamond future.”

Lt Bambro said: “The inquisitive nature of the younger children, and in particular the level of questions they were asking, is undoubtedly testament to the culture bred by the school and the teachers.”