Council House glows blue to mark anniversary

Nottingham's Council House has been glowing in a bright hue of blue this week.

The landmark in Old Market Square is being illuminated in the evenings to mark 75 years of the region's Royal Navy Reserve (RNR) being based in Nottingham.

Although the city is more than 50 miles from the nearest coastline, Nottingham and the wider region has "deep maritime connections", according to the East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, with four ships having been named HMS Nottingham.

The city council said in a Facebook post that the building would be illuminated throughout the week.

The first Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve unit was established in the Lace Quarter in 1949.

The RNR has had a presence in the city ever since and the unit was commissioned as HMS Sherwood in 1984.

Today the naval base is in Beeston.

Commander Sacha Brooks RNR, the commanding officer of HMS Sherwood, said the unit was "very gratified that [the]council retains its strong relationship with the reserves".

"This is a recognition of the [Naval] reservists and also the Royal Marines as well," she said.

"We really are like a family."

On 20 March, a reception will be held at the Council House to mark the RNR's 75-year presence in Nottingham.

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