Great story in the Mail online about the the departure from Santander of the first British citizens rescued by the Royal Navy:
Hundreds of Brits stranded in Spain after UK flights were grounded by the volcanic ash cloud were today rescued by a Royal Navy warship.
HMS Albion arrived in the northern port of Santander to pick up 310 holidaymakers as well as 500 troops returning from Afghanistan.
Relieved tourists mixed with Army, Navy and RAF personnel as they boarded the amphibious assault ship from 11am for a 40-hour journey to Portsmouth.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1267431/Iceland-volcano-ash-Ferry-firms-hit-Gordon-Browns-rescue-armada.html#ixzz0leCN8Y4a
At first holidaymakers were furious after being told that there was not enough room onboard to accommodate all of them.
But anger was followed by relief after Commander Geoff Wintle annouced: ‘We’re going to get everyone on. Nobody is being left behind.’
Speaking shortly before the Albion set sail at 1.20pm, he said: ‘It’s a warship so the civilians on board won’t be used to the austere conditions, but they will get fresh rations, fish and chips for dinner tonight and curry tomorrow.
‘We will provide as many camp beds and sleeping bags as we can, but it’s not a five-star hotel.’
‘There’s a dry policy on board so there won’t be any drinking going on.’