In common with many livery companies, The Worshipful Company of World Traders has formed an affiliation with a unit of HM armed forces.
In 2001 arrangements were made with the Admiralty for the Company to “adopt” HMS Manchester, a type 42 destroyer, at that time undergoing a major refit. Following re-commissioning in July 2002 (at a ceremony attended by the Master, Bryan Whalley, and the Immediate Pastmaster, Sue Hughes), the Ship has been based in Portsmouth.

NEWS - On 24th October 2007, the Master led a group of livermen to spend a day at sea aboard the Ship. To download a report of that visit, please click here.

The purpose of our affiliation is principally to demonstrate the support of the World Traders’ to HM forces, and clearly choosing a ship of the Royal Navy was a natural fit. But we also seek to provide tangible encouragement to the Ship’s company, and so far this has been achieved with the provision of an annual cash prize to a member of the lower deck selected by the Captain, awarded to the sailor who has done most to contribute to the morale of the crew.
The Master attends the award ceremony on board, and to date the winners have been:
2002 - Leading Physical Training Instructor Leone Cruickshank.
2003 – Chief Petty Officer Boz Boswell
2004 - Chief Petty Officer J Charles
2005 - Chief Petty Officers Gary Dow & Arthur English (joint award)
2006 - Chief Petty Officer Weapon Engineering Artificer Mark Sargant
2007 - Warrant Officer 2 Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) Dean Bower

Additionally the Captain has attended our banquets, and as appropriate are sponsored by the Company to receive the Freedom of the City of London. Their liaison officer to the World Traders’ attends the Tacitus Lecture, and we have appointed our own liveryman responsible for providing a continuing link with the Manchester, John Lecutier. It is his aim, on behalf of the Court, to develop additional ways in which we can demonstrate and provide support to “our ship”, and build and develop what has so far been a most successful and happy two way affiliation.
Captains of HMS Manchester since our affiliation began:
Commander Charles Ashcroft RN 2001 - 2003
Commander Richard Ingram RN 2003 - 2005
Commander Bill Evans RN 2005 - 2007
Commander David Dominy RN 2007 - 200

Commissioned in December 1982, HMS Manchester was the first of the four 'stretched' Type 42 destroyers to be constructed. Displacing over 4500 tonnes, she has a length of 141 metres and a top speed of 30 knots. She is armed primarily with the Sea Dart Medium Range Surface to Air missile system, a Vickers 114mm gun, and she also carries a Westland Lynx Mk8 helicopter for submarine and surface operations. The Type 42 Air Defence Destroyer is an area defence ship, designed to protect a force from air attack and control the airspace out to 200 miles. To read more, please click on the link to Manchester's own website.