DEDICATION and co-ordination were two vital components which bonded everyone together to build the Daring class of ships and for many there was also a sheer passion for the vessels.

Derek McCaffrey is one such man.

He was brought up just a stone's throw from the Scotstoun yard and knew from an early age that shipbuilding was for him.

The 51-year-old is right hand man to HMS Duncan's programme director Jennifer Osbaldestin and had to make sure tasks were completed within allotted timescales including the delivery of thousands of parts.

Derek, who now lives in Stewarton, East Ayrshire, remembers vividly the September day at the John Brown yard in Clydebank that changed his life.

He recalls: "In 1967, my mother took me to see the QE2 being launched and I sort of knew from then that I wanted to be a shipbuilder.

"I've been working for BAE Systems for 35 years and have been fortunate to see and be involved in great ships. But not many will come close to the Type 45s.

"My first ship was HMS Brilliant, a Type 22 destroyer. I have witnessed personally some amazing changes in the way we work, the ships we build and the advances in technology.

"I work with some of the smartest people in the country and I'm so encouraged by what we produce and the high standards we achieve.

"The Type 45 is a fantastic ship – the most complete ship I've ever been involved with – and I'll take great pride in seeing the last of the six leave the Clyde tomorrow.

"I go into every ship build – and I've been fortunate to work in all six in some way or another – with the same vision and goal: Build the best ship we can and continue the great reputation that we have built on the Clyde. I then picture the ship leaving and going under Erskine Bridge and the ship's horn sounding as it passes Erskine Hospital."

Ronnie Mann won't be at the Scotstoun yard tomorrow when Duncan sails down the Clyde, even though he was the ship's major subcontract programme manager in a role which involved co-ordinating with suppliers and specialist firms to make sure the supply chain was fully operational.

He's booked himself a well-earned holiday having worked on the entire Type 45 programme from day one.

He has spent 38 years with BAE Systems not just on the Clyde but also in England.

Ronnie, who commutes to Scotstoun each day from his home in Cairneyhill, Fife, said: "I've worked all over for BAE Systems. It's fair to say I'm well-travelled and first got involved in Type 45 work way back in 2000 down in Filton, near Bristol.

"This whole project has been the culmination of 13 years of my life which I've really enjoyed. I've worked on all six ships and had a part to play all along the life of the project."

HE continued: "I started on the combat management systems and then I went to platform engineering. I'm an engineer to trade but have been very adaptable - you have to be.

"I then moved into the supply chain and continued my time with the ships and I still remember the day back in December, 2000, when we signed the contract, knowing that this was a big job - but one on which we all wanted to be part of."

The 57-year-old, added: "I consider myself to be lucky for playing a role in all the ships being built and I get a feeling of achievement when I see one of them being completed and then leave the Clyde.

"When the first ship left it was a great feeling and while I won't be there to see Duncan leave, I will still have that great sense of achievement and completeness, knowing that I'm part of a great team of people, who produced some amazing ships."

Brian Carson, from Cardonald, is an engineer extraordinary. He was in charge of all the engineering work and has spent the last decade working on the Type 45 fleet.

The 50-year-old head of engineering delivery had initially worked on the design as well as the fleet's combat systems.

He says with pride: "I've been working with BAE Systems since 1978 starting as an apprentice electrician and have worked on some amazing ships and projects.

"When I was asked to work on the Type 45s I jumped at the chance.

"I'd never been part of a six-ship project before. Sure, I'd been involved in numerous ships before but I knew this was going to be special."

Brian will be aboard Duncan when colleagues line the quayside at Scotstoun as she begins her journey south where the last of class will be officially handed over to the Royal Navy.

He added: "I'll be part of the team on the delivery voyage to Portsmouth for Duncan and I'm really looking forward to making the journey.

"We do get to see some great parts of the country in-between making final preparations for delivery.

"I'm not the most sentimental person but when I walk off the ship in Portsmouth I will have a huge smile on my face and a great sense of pride and achievement that I was part of this great project, working with amazing people."

Tony Hepburn's job is almost done. As the ship's manager his duties included the sea trials off the Scottish coastline and getting the destroyer battle-ready for delivery to naval chiefs.

The 51-year-old lives in Clydebank and shipbuilding has been in his blood since the day he joined a yard as an apprentice electrician before spending more than 10 years away to progress his career.

But the call of Glasgow's famous river and the lure of playing such a prominent role in the creation of a new fleet just couldn't be ignored.

Tony admits he just had to be involved in the Type 45 programme. With more than 30 years experience in shipbuilding he knew he had plenty to offer, and said: "It was good to come home and be part of the building and development of some of the most complex warships I've ever worked on.

"These ships are fantastic and I've been fortunate to see them in action in sea trials.

"Duncan is a great ship and that is down to a lot of the lessons learned from this whole six-ship programme.

"Every ship teaches us lessons that we carry on to the next one. We are constantly looking at how we can improve the product."

gordon.thomson@eveningtimes.co.uk

IN the week that HMS

Duncan, the last of the six

Type 45 destroyers, leaves Glasgow, GORDON

THOMSON looks at how their creation is a perfect example of managers and workers combining their skills with the help of subcontractors and suppliers to produce the most advanced fleet of its kind in the world