A SOUTHAMPTON pensioner celebrated her 70th birthday yesterday and made it clear she was determined to sail on far into the next millennium.

The tug tender Calshot was launched on November 4, 1929 at the John I Thornycroft shipyard at Woolston and this week the vessel received the best anniversary present she could have ever wished for.

Just 48 hours before guests, including the city's mayor, Derek Burke, gathered in Southampton docks to mark Calshot's seven decades afloat, the official National Historic ships Committee declared the former Red Funnel vessel a national treasure and an important part of the UK's maritime heritage.

Calshot, which belongs to the city council but is cared for by a charitable trust, is now one of just 46 craft designated to be of "pre-eminent national significance" in the core collection of the National Register of Historic Vessels.

The tug tender is believed to be the last vessel of her type left in the UK and has a unique position in the city's shipping tradition. Among the many people who attended Calshot's birthday party was the tug tender's former mate, 71-year-old Denis Hiscock.

"I was a crew member, on and off, for about five or six years back in the 50s," he said.

"She was always a happy ship and a very hard working one. Not often a day went by when she was not busy with all the ships in the docks, ferrying passengers and mail and helping to manoeuvre liners.

"It's wonderful that after all these years the old girl has got the recognition she deserves."

The dedicated band of volunteers who have been working hard to restore Calshot are delighted too. "It just could not have come at a better time as it will raise the profile of Calshot and its importance to our maritime history enormously," said Terry Yarwood, director trustee of the charity.

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