A NORTHUMBERLAND town yesterday honoured the memory of one its most famous sons.

A life-size bronze bust of North East naval hero Admiral Lord Collingwood, once dubbed the “Northumbrian who saved the nation”, was unveiled in Morpeth, where he used to live.

Newcastle-born Lord Collingwood famously led a British fleet in a victory over the French and Spanish at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

He had strong links with Morpeth having owned a house in Oldgate from 1791 to 1805.

The hero was a familiar figure walking around the community and banks of the River Wansbeck. Lord Collingwood often wrote of his love for the town in letters home and was on his way back to Morpeth when he died.

He would end his career as Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, based in Menorca and died on board ship off its capital Port Mahon.

When celebrations were taking place in the North East to mark 200 years since Lord Collingwood’s death, the Menorca Britannia Association – a band of Brits living on the island – decided to have a bust made and erected overlooking the harbour where he died.

The 2010 unveiling ceremony was attended by representatives from Greater Morpeth Development Trust who thought such a bust should be made for their town. Helen Ridehalgh, the Devon- based sculptor appointed by the association, still had the mould and the organisation gave consent for a one-off replica to be produced.

The trust set about raising the £4,000 cost and managed to do so via public donations as well as contributions from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Morpeth Town Council, Friends of Morpeth Museum and the Collingwood Society.

Ms Ridehalgh was commissioned and the end result was unveiled yesterday in Morpeth Town Hall’s Butter Market, a stone’s throw from Lord Collingwood’s former home, during a day of commemoration and thanksgiving for his life. In attendance were representatives from the trust, the various funders, Ms Ridehalgh and the association, who travelled from Menorca for the occasion.

Commodore Mike Mansergh from Navy training site HMS Collingwood, in Gateshead, was also present. The trust’s director of heritage Kim Bibby-Wilson recalled the moment the fundraising campaign was born, saying: “There was this great opportunity, do we not commission a replica?

“It was a struggle to raise money, to get commitment from various people.

“It was a big community effort,. It has taken us three years to get there.”

Ms Ridehalgh recalled her thoughts at being asked to do the original, saying: “I thought, I like character portraits. I thought, here is an admiral who has lots of character.”