Commodore Chris Bland RN and his wife Frances, together with his parents-in-law Tony and Jenny Mellor, were guests of the Mayor of Douglas, Councillor Debbie Pitts, at Douglas town hall, days after Commodore Bland had performed his duties as Tynwald military liaison officer at this year’s Tynwald Day ceremony.

Douglas town hall was where Commodore Bland first met his wife to be in 2004. Councillor Pitts explained: ‘That year the then Mayor, June Craine, hosted a reception and dinner at the town hall for officers of HMS Vigilant when the ship, on which Chris Bland served, was visiting the island. The ship enjoys a civic affiliation with the Borough of Douglas and also with Noble's Hospital's children's ward where Frances and I worked at the time. Frances and I attended the dinner as representatives of the children's ward and it was then that Chris and Frances struck up a friendship. They've now been married for 10 and a half years and have two girls, Amelia, nine and Charlotte, three. Frances and I have now been friends for over 19 years and I’m godmother to Amelia.'

Commodore Bland was appointed to the voluntary role of Tynwald military liaison officer at the end of 2014 by the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald. He is responsible for planning, communicating and coordinating arrangements with members of the armed forces serving at St John’s on Tynwald Day.

Photo - Commodore Chris Bland RN, his wife Frances and the Mayor and Mayoress of Douglas, Debbie Pitts and Linda Curphey. Picture Andrew Barton.