A SAILOR from Ellesmere Port helped evacuate hundreds of Britons from war-torn Lebanon.

Ross Jones is an operator maintainer (communications) on HMS Gloucester, the first Royal Navy ship to sail into Beirut to aid the rescue mission.

The ship initially collected 180 people, identified by the Foreign Office as 'high priority', on the evening of Tuesday, July 18 and dropped them off safely in Limassol, Cyprus the next day so they could fly home.

Then, after refuelling and restocking supplies, it turned back to Lebanon and rescued a further 513 people.

Lieutenant Commander Gill Wright, of HMS Gloucester, said: 'All 250 members of our ship's company worked hard together to get the ship ready for her extra passengers. Every sailor made a vital contribution and worked non-stop for nearly two days.'

She said Ross helped by being part of the onboard fire-fighting team in case of a people'. gency during the transit into Lebanese waters. emer-Once the ship was safely clear of the Israeli naval blockade he was a host in one of the mess decks making the evacuees comfortable.

Ross said: 'It was a privilege to be part of this operation. I even parted with my beloved Liverpool shirt to a young Lebanese Liverpool fan.

'This is something I'm very proud to be a part of and very pleased we were able to help these people.'

In a message to his mum Penny, dad Keith and younger brother William in the Port, he said: 'I'm missing you all very much and looking forward to seeing you all soon.

'You've all been great in supporting me with your encouragement during this hard time. We're doing an excellent job to evacuate UK citizens during this crisis.'

Technology worker flees 'mass panic'

HUNDREDS of Britons were in a 'mass panic' as they tried to flee war-torn Lebanon.

Eye-witness Neil Ackerley, 39, formerly of Ellesmere Port, was just one of many ex-pats, businesspeople and holidaymakers trying to leave. initially left his hotel in Beirut after it was hit during Israel's bombing campaign, and moved to another higher up in the mountains. But then most communications and power was cut due to more bombs.

Mr Ackerley said: 'I got worried towards the end of this because I'd not been contacted by anyone with a view to getting out.

'There was no British TV in the hotel, only Arabic which I couldn't understand too well.

'My sister Debbie managed to text me to say 'get to the docks, they are evacuating people.'

'But when I got there, the first lot had gone and I had to return the next day.

'Everyone was down there, all the British people trying to get out safely, and they were in complete panic. There was no organisation at all.' says it wasn't until he picked up by the RAF and Royal Navy that he felt in safe hands.

Mr Ackerley is the technical manager for a US technology company. He runs their office in Dubai and his work involves travelling around the Middle East and Pakistan.

Born in the Port, he attended Wolverham Primary and Stanney High schools before joining the RAF. He has been in his present job for 19 months.

His sister Debbie, 36, and parents Jean and Allan are relieved he is home safely.

Speaking about the evacuation in Parliament last week borough MP Andrew Miller said: 'The Foreign Office has been fantastic.

'We should put on the record our thanks to the staff on the ground and the Ministry of Defence for the work they have done.' (com-