Veronica bell tolls in memory of dad

Roger Jackman, whose father served aboard HMS Veronica, stepped forward to ring the ship's bell at yesterday's service. Photo / Paul Taylor

There is little doubt if Auckland man Roger Jackman's dad was alive he would have been engulfed with pride at the Sound Shell colonnade yesterday.

Benjamin Jackman had been a stoker aboard the HMS Veronica when it sailed into Napier on the fateful day of February 3, 1931, and yesterday his son stepped forward to ring the ship's bell at the Veronica Bell Parade.

"To do this is truly something else," Mr Jackman said.

"It really is an honour."

He had been asked by the Royal NZ Navy's Hawke's Bay liaison Lieutenant Commander Neville Smith to do the honours and was proud to accept.

"My wife and I have been coming down to Napier for this weekend for several years now," Mr Jackman said.

The link with his father, the ship and the city made the visits "very special".

"Dad was of the generation that did not talk about service exploits and in my stupid youth I did not have the sense to quiz him about it.

"He did mention though that he did most of the recovery work in the vicinity of the nurse's home."

His father spent 27 years in the navy, and after leaving HMS Veronica served aboard the RNZN ships Leander and Gambia.

A large gathering greeted the arrival of the navy band just before 12.30pm and two sea scouts bore the platform holding the Veronica's bell.

A contingent of personnel from HMNZS Wellington formed a parade with Dean Michael Godfrey from Waiapu Cathedral opening the public service.

He gave thanks for the sailors' courage, skill and hard work, and for the comfort they gave to the people of Napier who were in need.

Deputy Chief of Navy Commodore Dean McDougall spoke of the similarities between the Napier earthquake of 1931 and the Christchurch earthquake in 2011 - on both occasions navy vessels had been in nearby ports and their crews were among the first to be involved.

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton said the city recognised the "pivotal" role the navy had played in 1931, and as a result a strong relationship with the services had formed. "This bell from the Veronica is one of our greatest treasures."

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