A guard of honour made up of trainee sailors has welcomed a new Commanding Officer to HMS Raleigh.

Captain Ellie Ablett has relieved Capt Rob Bellfield to become the first woman in command of the Royal Navy’s largest training base in the South West.

Capt Ablett joined the Royal Navy in 1993, in the first wave of women to join a fully integrated service on the closure of the Women’s Royal Naval Service. She comes to HMS Raleigh direct from an appointment in Whitehall as the executive assistant to the First Sea Lord.

She said: ‘I am humbled and delighted to have been selected to take Command of HMS Raleigh. Leading the team who are responsible for shaping the key ingredient for our service’s future success – its people – is a real privilege. And to do that as the Royal Navy begins to grow for the first time in 50 years is particularly exciting.’

Capt Bellfield has left HMS Raleigh after two years in command, for a period of study at the Royal College of Defence Studies in London.

He said: ‘My time in command of Raleigh has been richly rewarding, witnessing the passion of the staff, and the determination to succeed of the recruits and trainees across all the schools. We have passed high quality officers and ratings into the fleet – the Royal Navy will be in good hands for the future.’