A 100-year-old Montrose woman has spoken of her delight at receiving a video birthday message from a group of marines.
Muriel Alexander did not think it could get much better after receiving a telegram from Queen Elizabeth II wishing her a happy birthday on her centenary on Thursday.
However, she was shocked to then receive a message from several dozen marines, who work on HMS Montrose, which is based in Devonport dockyard in Plymouth.
Happy 100 birthday to Muriel at Dorward House in Montrose @HMS_MONTROSE @RoyalNavy @RNinScotland @navy_news pic.twitter.com/qwxbUs2GEM
— HMS MONTROSE (@HMS_MONTROSE) August 31, 2017
“I want to thank the crew for thinking about me” said Mrs Alexander, who has been a resident at Dorward House for two years.
“I have never been serenaded before but if you live long enough who knows what will happen!
“It is a lovely and moving gift,” added Mrs Alexander, who is originally from Bucksburn in Aberdeenshire and has lived in Montrose for 65 years.
“Perhaps when the ship visits Montrose again I might meet up with some of the crew and thank them in person.”
The frigate carries out a range of charity work, some of which is affiliated with the town, although Muriel herself does not have any connection with the navy.
Her daughter, Muriel Hardy, said she thought her mum was mistaken at first when she informed her she had received the 25-second video.
She said: “It’s only because she doesn’t see very well and I thought she must not have picked it up properly.
“Then I went and asked someone and realised that it was right, she had received the message. I was quite surprised I have to say. I didn’t expect it at all.”
In 2014, the Type 23 frigate underwent a complex refit and sailed for the first time in almost three years in July.
The ship, named after the Duke of Montrose, has been at the forefront of British overseas activity having regularly been used in drug-interdiction raids in the Caribbean, netting millions in cocaine or heroin.
The crew have also taken part in disaster relief operations in overseas territories and beyond, even contributing to the evacuation of British civilians from Libya in 2011 during Operation Ellamy.
