A TULLIBODY sailor was part of the historic naming ceremony of the largest ship ever built for the Royal Navy.

Weighing in at 65,000 tonnes, the huge aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is 280 metres long, 70 metres wide and approximately 70 metres tall from keel to masthead – making her taller than the Scott Monument.

Petty Officer George Carroll is part of the ship’s company of HMS Queen Elizabeth while she is in build at Rosyth in Fife.

The historic naming ceremony took place on Friday (4 July) and was carried out by Her Majesty the Queen.

Joining the Royal Navy in January 2002, George is a High Frequency Communications Maintainer within the ship’s company and is currently working in the testing and commissioning team focusing on all external communications.

The 31-year-old said, “I am incredibly proud to be a member of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s first ship’s company and to be part of this truly historic day.

“This will definitely be a day I will always remember, a real high point in my career within the Royal Navy and I feel very fortunate to have been on the right crew at the right time to be included in this great celebration.” George, a former Lornshill Academy pupil, has just been involved in National Armed Forces Day in Stirling where he was part of the team showcasing the aircraft carrier to the visitors on the day.

He said, “It was great to be able to show the public a detailed model of the ship and explain the state of the art technology and role she will play for the Royal Navy in the future.”