Fireworks display – with a military twist

As we posted here a couple of weeks ago after a tip-off from a reader who keeps an eye on Port of London 'notices to mariners', there will be a fireworks display lasting about 10 minutes from barges positioned mid-stream in Greenwich Reach off the Old Royal Naval College tomorrow, Saturday 5th May at 9.45pm.

We've been wondering what celebration might be taking place. We may now have our answer. Can it have something to do with HMS Ocean coming to Greenwich? There are always a few crackers going off when the Navy are in town...

Here is the Navy's largest ship navigating down the Thames around midday today. Click here to see the BBC video.

The BBC reports: A large-scale exercise to test the military contribution to the Olympics security effort has been taking place. Tests of air defence missile systems at six sites across London using dummy armaments have begun. And Typhoon jets, based at RAF Northolt in west London, will take to the skies over south-east England with Lynx, Sea King and Puma helicopters.

Exercise Olympic Guardian, which goes on until 10 May, will also see HMS Ocean sail to Greenwich in the capital. Military chiefs have warned residents of an increase in loud air activity.

Er...no they haven't.

Meanwhile, the Blackheath Bugle has been keeping a wary eye on the Blackheath Missiles and has alerted us to this scary BBC video, filmed yesterday when the army demonstrated their weapons capability on our lovely heath.

Also see our March 20th post about the military build up in Greenwich.