A 101-YEAR-OLD grandmother will take the salute when the crew of a gunboat exercises its freedom of Newcastle today.
Florence Knight, from Whitley Bay, will join the Lord Mayor, Councillor Mary Carr, when HMS Newcastle's crew marches past.
It will be an extra special occasion for Mrs Knight, whose grandson, Lieutenant Simon Kelly, also from Whitley Bay, will be among shipmates on parade behind the ship's honour guard and the Band of the Royal Marines.
Mrs Knight was born on Christmas Eve 1899. Since then there have been three Royal Navy ships bearing the name of Newcastle.
Her grandson, Lt Kelly, 27, is a warfare officer on HMS Newcastle and serves as the officer of the second watch on the ship.
He attended the Royal Grammar School before going to university in Leicester.
The ship was first granted its freedom - the right to march with drums beating and bayonets fixed - in 1978. Today it will exercise its right at 11am.
The parade will start at the city's Guild Hall, with the ship's company marching through the city before returning to the hall.
HMS Newcastle will be berthed at Spillers Wharf until September 11. There will be opportunities to visit the ship from 2pm to 5.30pm tomorrow, and from 2pm to 6.30pm on Sunday.
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