It feels good to be back home, mum!

After four months at sea, when 26-year-old Richard Kenney disembarked from the 20,000-tonne warship on Saturday, he couldn't wait to get home to his family in Collets Green, Powick.

"There was a real sense of pride to see all those yachts and people waiting for us," said Richard, who is a Leading Weapons Engineering Artificer.

"Obviously, it was nice to see the family as well.

"At the moment, it has not quite sunk in that I am home. Saturday was quite overwhelming.

"Now I am looking forward to relaxing and getting back to normal."

During the conflict the aircraft carrier played a major role in the British contribution and Richard, said it was important for him to simply get on with his job.

"When you're out there, there are a lot of people doing different jobs," said the former Dyson Perrins pupil.

"At the time you just carry on with the job that you are doing and make sure that everything in your domain is working properly."

Early on in the conflict the Ark Royal was hit by tragedy when six Britons and an American were killed in a collision between two Sea Kings helicopters.

Richard described the incident as "devastating".

"Initially, morale had hit an all-time low - the war had only just started and already we were dealing with this tragedy.

"We just had to pull together and get the job done."

Richard's parents, Michael and Catherine Kenney, along with his girlfriend, Lisa, and a couple of friends, had travelled from Powick to greet him at the harbour.

Michael Kenney said: "Around 3,000 people turned up in Portsmouth and it was quite obvious that children, parents, wives and girlfriends were getting quite emotional as the ship was coming in to dock."

n Also arriving home on Saturday was 18-year-old Natalie Lazenby, a former pupil of Edward Oldcorne School, Worcester, who passed out in November 2001.

She was one of the youngest girls on board Ark Royal and served as a WREN steward. Her family met her at the quayside.