On 21st June 1974, HMS Coventry was launched by Lady Lewin at Birkenhead. Lady Lewin was provided with a photo album of the day and this album includes photos from that album and the Cammell Laird archives, and also the commissioning ceremony at Portsmouth Dockyard (South Railway Jetty) on 10th November 1978. Lady Lewin’s son Tim Lewin has kindly provided these photos to Jack Russell for display on the website.
Album cover, 21/06/1974
Official commemorative cover, 21/06/1974
Letter from Cammell Laird, 25/06/1974
Coventry prepared for launching, 21/06/1974
VIPs including Lady Lewin and the Lord Mayor of Coventry, 21/06/1974
Lady Lewin doing her bit!, 21/06/1974
Coventry begins to thunder down the slipway, 21/06/1974
Sliding into the Mersey, 21/06/1974
Afloat for the first time, 21/06/1974
Lady Lewin being presented with the ship's crest, 21/06/1974
Tugs move Coventry into the adjacent wet basin, 21/06/1974
Tug 'Crosby' assists Coventry into the wet basin, 21/06/1974
Being towed into the wet basin (where tanker Esso Severn was also being fitted out), 21/06/1974
Towed into the wet basin (RFA Tidesurge A98 behind), 21/06/1974
Commissioning ceremony at Pompey, 10/11/1978
Commissioning ceremony at Pompey, 10/11/1978
Commissioning ceremony at Pompey, 10/11/1978
Commissioning ceremony at Pompey, 10/11/1978
Commissioning ceremony at Pompey - with Captain Burne holding the Cross of Nails, 10/11/1978
Commissioning ceremony at Pompey - Captain C.P.O. Burne RN, 10/11/1978
