By Chris Hardy

COMMANDER TONY WATT, the commanding officer of HMS Montrose, has been awarded the OBE in the New Year honours list.

The award is in recognition of his leadership of the ship and its crew, ensuring maximum capability and full operational effectiveness while working in the demanding maritime theatre off Iraq.

Away from conflict, HMS Montrose and her crew have had a long affiliation with Angus and has paid extended visits to to the ports at Montrose and Dundee.

Angus Provost Bill Middleton said yesterday that on behalf of the people of Angus he was delighted to learn of the award to Commander Watt and extended their congratulations.

“The crew participate in many different events when here and we thank Cdr Watt for everything they do in helping so many different organisations.”

Successive commanding officers of HMS Montrose are automatic honorary members of Montrose and District Rotary Club— several of whose members were guests on board during her brief visit to the area earlier this year.

Rotary president David May said he was delighted to learn of Cdr Watt’s honour and on behalf of the club sent his congratulations.

Cdr Watt has been the commanding officer of the Type 23 Frigate since the summer of 2005.

He was born and educated in Lincoln before joining the Royal Navy as a warfare officer in 1987.

As a qualified clearance diver he has worked a lot in the mine counter measure vessels of the fleet and immediately prior to promotion to commander was in command of the mine counter measures vessel HMS Ramsey.

After a period of operational work-up HMS Montrose deployed for nearly seven months to the Gulf, spending Christmas last year away from home.

The main task for the ship was to protect the Iraqi oil platforms in the north, which at the time of her operations was the only fully functional pipeline.

Cdr Watt said, “This award is a great honour to myself but truly reflects the hard work and commitment from all the dedicated ship’s company during an uncertain period and also reflects the sacrifice and support of families left behind.”

When they return from some well earned Christmas leave, HMS Montrose is set to deploy again to work with NATO in the Mediterranean.