Iraq conflict flagship HMS Ark Royal brought the curtain down on a momentous year with high-profile visits to Tyneside and Yorkshire.

After a stop-off in Amsterdam and exercises with Harrier fighter jets in the North Sea, the carrier headed back to the UK to renew long-standing ties with the people of Leeds.

The Yorkshire city adopted the third Ark Royal shortly before the carrier was sunk in 1941, then raised the then colossal sum of £9.3m – more than £75m by today’s standards – to fund her replacement.

For the past 30 years, crew have enjoyed the Freedom of the City – a privilege most recently exercised in November.

Leeds people maintained links with the Ark during operations in the Middle East last spring, sending letters of support to the ship and her company.

Sailors had the chance to repay that support after flying exercises in the North Sea, when the carrier put into Tyneside – the 20,000-tonne warship is too large to make her way into any of the West Yorkshire waterways.

From North Shields it was a bus ride for 200 crew members, led by Ark’s Commanding Officer Capt Adrian Nance.

The sailors formed up for Lord Mayor Cllr Neil Taggart and thousands of citizens who braved the brisk weather to watch Ark Royal sailors on the streets of Leeds for the first time in nine years.

A Royal Marines band, a platoon of Sea Cadets from TS Ark Royal and members of the RNA and Royal British Legion lined up in front of Leeds Civic Hall, then marched around the city centre.

“The visit to Leeds provided Ark Royal with a perfect opportunity to show the people of Leeds how highly we prize our relationship with them,” said Capt Nance.

“The freedom parade is a tradition to be treasured and maintained. Parading through the streets with a band playing, Colours flying and bayonets fixed is an extremely auspicious occasion.”

One of the visitors to the ship was Leeds-born TV personality, DJ and charity champion Sir Jimmy Saville , who was given a guided tour of the flattop.

Sir Jimmy travelled to North Shields to see his city’s adopted ship and sailors – and didn’t disappoint those who met him.

“Jimmy’s famous for his cigars, jewellery, outlandish clothes and catchphrases, and even though he’s approaching 80, he was on top form and as witty as ever – even managing to steal a kiss from a few admirers,” said Lt Cdr Jonathan Stamper.

“Many of the crew remember him from his Jim’ll Fix It days – some even admitted having sent letters to him all those years ago.”

And the visit was a chance for Sir Jimmy to catch up with old acquaintances, not least supply officer Lt Vicky Whale, who escorted the veteran broadcaster on his tour.

The last time the two met was aboard Ark’s sister HMS Invincible, when the officer was just eight.

The veteran broadcaster left the ship with a unique memento – an “Ark Royal fixed it for Jim” badge.

And as Sir Jimmy stepped off the carrier, model, TV presenter and Leeds lass Nell McAndrew clambered up the gangway to hand over free chocolate and a £17,000 cheque to crew.

The cash for Ark’s welfare fund was the carrier’s dividend from NAAFI’s handout to the RN this year – a fund boosted by all the sweets and chocolate Ark’s crew worked through off Iraq – and Nell, who regularly works with the organisation, presented the cash.

She also dipped into her own pockets to give crew Yorkie bars and shaving gel which she promoted in an advertising campaign, as well as touring the ship, signing copies of her calendar and posing with sailors for photographs.