The first cutting was taken in 1990, when Captain Potts was invited to a Civic Reception by the Mayor and Mayoress, Maurice and Rosemary Cooper.
The Civic reception was the idea of Councillor Joan Evans , when she was invited to Plymouth to see the Royal Naval ship being commissioned in 1989.
The freedom ceremony had to be delayed until 1990 as the ship was called away on Navy service.

A fixture was arranged between the ship and M.R.F.C. in 1992 the ship was in Port!

The fixture occurred in the Autumn of 1992 when Mrs. Evans was Mayor.