HMS Ark Royal. Seen at Cairnryan – her last resting place prior to being broken up here in 1980. She arrived at Cairnryan on the 28th Sept 1980 demolition completed by 1984. (via Jim Bavin)
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal at Cairnryan breaker’s yard 1980
Naval Matters 
Whilst it’s sad to see the mighty Ark Royal in her final days in this picture, I thought you might like to know that the ‘little’ ship in the foreground, Ross Revenge, survived the breaker’s yard and became Radio Caroline’s last ship. After being fitted out in Spain with a 300 ft mast, she gave good service to the radio station from 1983 to 1991, when she was blown onto the Goodwin Sands. Miraculously she survivedthat ordeal too, as did Radio Caroline, and at present she’s moored in the River Blackwater in Essex and cared for by a team of volunteers. Radio Caroline also continues via the internet at http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk.
Sometime between 1978 and 1982 I saw HMS Eagle at Cairnryan for breaking. Not a happy experience.
I remember seeing Centaur at the breakers at Queenborough, but I think the saddest sight was always Harry Pound’s at Portsmouth.