The first British warship to visit Cuba since before the 1959 revolution sailed into Havana Bay yesterday, to the strains of “God Save the Queen.” played by a Cuban Navy band.

In the first formal visit since 1957 when the frigate HMS Bigbury Bay was in Havana, HMS Manchester is pictured here passing the colonial-era Morro Cabana fortress heading into port opposite Old Havana, the historic centre of the Cuban capital.

It’s the the start of a five-day visit to the Communist-led island, and the admirably monikered Commander Rex Cox will be chatting to the locals about counter-narcotics operations. In the meantime the brothels and cigar shops of Old Havana will once again ring to the chirpy and cheerful blaspheming of Jolly Jack Tar.