The new captain of RNAS Culdrose has been welcomed to Helston by the town’s mayor.

Mike Thomas met with Captain Adrian Orchard in the council chamber last Thursday, ahead of the full council meeting. 

Accompanied by Lieutenant Commander Neil Bennetts, Captain Orchard was able to view a framed print of an aerial shot of Helston and its periphery, taken by one of Culdrose’s helicopter crews.

One hangs in the mayor’s parlour, while a second is to be hung in a public area of the Guildhall so that all members of the public can enjoy it. 

They were gifted to the council by former captain of the base Mark Garrett, after Mr Thomas asked him whether it was possible to take such a photograph. 

Mr Thomas said: “It is a great pleasure to welcome our new captain. He’s here today to thank him, on behalf of Helston Town Council, for this magnificent piece of photography. It is almost a piece of art in its own right.”

He gave a “big thank you” to all the staff involved in creating and producing the images. 

Captain Orchard joked: “It’s always nice to take credit for something you didn’t do.”

He said what was pleasing was that this was one of the first times a crew had been able to capture something that not only showed the whole of Helston, but also the link road that pulls the town together with the base. 

Captain Orchard added that all he had received since his arrival four weeks ago was “a friendly welcome.”