THE Wellington-based band Blue Room Baboons brought a bit of James Bond to the Royal Navy Christmas ball aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth.

The Bond-themed event saw the largest hanger in the ship converted into a ballroom for guests to dine and dance the night away, complete with a large ice sculpture of the ship and on-board casino.

The Blue Room Baboons spent months rehearsing James Bond songs to entertain servicemen and women including a rendition of Nobody Does It Better with the lyrics changed to “Navy you’re the best!”

The band said: “It was the most incredible gig we have ever played. The honour to perform for the Navy personnel was a delight and to be aboard the flagship of the Royal Navy was amazing.

“The crew and their guests were dancing all night long. It was quite surreal – on the one hand it felt like any other gig but then you look up and realise you’re on an aircraft carrier with an F35 fighter jet next to the stage.

“We wish all the crew and everyone in service a very merry Christmas and good luck on your next voyage.”

The members of the band are Stuart Lissaman, Tim Salter, Guy Kirkham, Jonny Corcoran, Justin Williams, Keira Lissaman, Charlotte Ward and Alice Gilgrist.