Lusty Lady's coming home; WARSHIP RETURNS TO REGION

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), March 19, 2009

Byline: By LISA HUTCHINSON

SHE'S nicknamed the Lusty Lady of the seas and she's coming home to the Tyne next week.

HMS Illustrious is 22 tonnes of impressive engineering and is a symbol of Tyneside's shipbuilding history.

Launched at the Swan Hunter yard in Wallsend in December 1978, she was commissioned into the Royal Navy Fleet in 1982 and is coming back to her roots on Monday.

And on board is Claire Lackenby who joined the Royal Navy in July and has now completed her intensive training to turn her from a civilian into a sailor.

Claire, 21, is a former pupil of Sacred Heart High School, Fenham, and is working with communication and information systems on the ship.

But her mum, Pauline Gray, with partner David Hardy, brother Darren, 14, and eight-week-old sister Jasmine, with grandad Lawrence Gray, and partner Joan Close, of Throckley, Newcastle, are all excited for her to return. Taxi driver Lawrence, 69, said: "I'm a very proud grandad. She has done so well.

"Claire has signed up for 18 years and is looking forward to a successful career with the Navy. She was awarded the top academic award in her class because she scored the top marks of 98.1% for her written test.

"We are all so proud of her."

During HMS Illustrious' five-day stay, the aircraft carrier will undertake a busy programme.

Among the visits is a small delegation of catering students from New Durham College and groups of prospective Royal Navy recruits currently undertaking Public Uniformed Services Courses at both Tyne Metropolitan College and South Tyneside College. Additionally there will be visits by groups from The Royal British Legion, Royal Naval Association and the Northern Defence Industry Group, as well as recruits from the local Royal Naval Reserve Unit, HMS Calliope.

And members of the ship's company are also scheduled to take part in various sporting fixtures, including rugby against RAF Boulmer, net-ball versus Royal Grammar School, golf against Northumberland Golf Club and a football match against Tyne and Wear Fire Service.

Unfortunately, on this occasion, HMS Illustrious will be unable to open to the public during her stay, due to the extensive preparations to be undertaken during her time alongside for her next sea tasking.

Commanding Office, Captain Ben Key, said: "We are very much looking forward to spending time in North Shields and to hosting a number of invited local groups."

And for some on board this is a trip home, as several members of the ship's company are from the area.

Leading Logistician Simon Graham, 25, who still lives in Newcastle, said: "It's going to be great to be back, as I will be able to get my friends and family onboard to show them what I do."

CAPTION(S):

WOR SHIP!: HMS Illustrious launched from Swan Hunter in Wallsend in December 1978