- Colin Hamilton’s ship Jupiter crashed into a bridge in 1984.
- He is currently in a dispute over floodwaters that flooded his 18th-century mansion.
A naval captain who once crashed a warship into London Bridge has had another bad experience, this time due to flooding.
Colin Hamilton’s ship HMS Jupiter collided with a bridge in 1984, causing “significant” damage to both the ship and the landmark. Needless to say, it was a huge embarrassment for the Royal Navy.
Now he is back in the spotlight after being summoned to court for failing to pay £4,000 in council tax on a £2 million Grade II listed property in West Sussex.
A retired sea captain and his wife June are in a battle with local authorities, claiming that the council’s nearby highway construction has caused flood water to enter their 18th-century manor house.
The couple, who live in a converted barn next door, say the house is no longer suitable for living in.
They withheld the council tax in protest, arguing that the council should have been exempt as a result.
However, Worthing magistrates this week disagreed with the couple and made a liability order of £4,060.46 plus £42 costs.
Arun District Councilor Rachel Hills told the court several summonses had been issued in relation to the 2022/23 charges and the case had come before judges a number of times in the last year.
The order means the couple will face further action in court if they do not pay their council tax. Captain Hamilton and his wife, who is an independent member of Arun District Council, did not appear in court.
They are understood to be seeking to overturn the decision in court.
After the London Bridge disaster, Hamilton was taken to court martial and severely reprimanded.
Hamilton, then commander of the Royal Navy, ignored advice from his captain and did not request assistance from two tugboats, Ionia and Sun Swale, to assist him in navigating the Thames.
As a result, river currents swept away the 113-metre-long, 3,200-ton naval frigate Jupiter, causing it to turn dramatically.
Hundreds of people watched as the warship drifted down the Thames at breakneck speed and crashed into a bridge, causing significant damage.
Witnesses reported seeing chunks of granite fall from London Bridge into the River Thames.
Photos taken at the time show the collision with the bridge caused severe damage to the side of the ship and bent radar and communication towers.
Despite being court-martialed for his role in the accident, Hamilton was promoted to captain and given command of other ships.
His wife, an author, is an avid sailor herself and previously served as president of the Yachting Journalists Association. She said: She said: “I am shocked. I did not expect this matter to come back to court as it is at the appeal stage.
“The court intends to consider our appeal.”
Arun District Council has been contacted for comment.
Following an accident in 1984, HMS Jupiter required extensive repairs before returning to the Royal Navy. The frigate could carry four Exocet missiles, and she was launched in 1967 and operated around the world, including supporting the evacuation of British subjects in Yemen in 1986.
During the First Gulf War, the frigate was deployed to protect British interests at risk of conflict. Her last deployment was in the South Atlantic in 1991, via Rio de Janeiro and Barbados and back, where she conducted drug enforcement patrols.
The ship was decommissioned in 1992 and sold for scrap in 1997.