JUST because you’re in the Indian Ocean doesn’t mean you can’t run the London Marathon.

As a homage to those pounding the streets of the capital, the men and women of HMS Somerset staged their version of the legendary road race half way around the world thanks to the organisational skill of POMEAs ‘Chip’ Monk and Stevie Wilsmore.

It would be too much to ask the sailors to run a full marathon in these temperatures (it was already touching 30°C by the time the first racer – CO Cdr Andrew Burns leading by example – set off on a lap of his upper deck), so a relay was the order of the day.

Five competing departments raced around the Type 23 and it was the organisers’ shipmates, the marine engineering department, who posted the fastest time – a very impressive 2h 48m 32s.

They – and the rest of the runners – were invited to sundowners on the flight deck. As well as lifting spirits, the marathon raised £320 for Help for Heroes.

That same day – April 25 – saw a rather more solemn affair on the flight deck. With the sun rising over Somerset, the ship’s company paid their respects to the fallen of the Gallipoli campaign.

For Australians and New Zealanders, April 25 – ANZAC Day – is as enshrined in the national consciousness as November 11 is to Britons.

Somerset boasts one Antipodean among her ship’s company, flight observer Lt Jimmy Hawley (you might remember him from last year’s feature on the ship’s NATO deployment).

Like Australians and New Zealanders across the globe, he paid tribute to his forebears at a service of remembrance, led by HMS Ocean’s chaplain, the Rev John Morris.

Moving on to the Far East, the Devonport-based frigate is now enjoying a fortnight’s break in Sembawang, Singapore.

There she hosted First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, who’s currently conducting a farewell tour of the Fleet before handing over the reins to CINC Fleet Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope later this summer.

The admiral met sailors from every one of Somerset’s departments and presented one, CPOET(ME) Finney with a Long Service and Good Conduct medal, before departing.