The former head of the Royal Navy Medical Service has been named as godmother of Saga Cruises’ newest ship, Spirit of Adventure.
Commodore Inga J Kennedy CBE follows in the footsteps of the Duchess of Cornwall, who is godmother to sister ship Spirit of Discovery.
Kennedy will officially name Spirit of Adventure during a ceremony in Portsmouth on 19 July.
Born in Aberdeen, she studied nursing at Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh before becoming a registered nurse, midwife and lecturer.
Having joined the Royal Navy Reserve in 1987, Kennedy undertook full-time reserve service between 1998 and 2000 as a senior midwife in the Royal Naval Hospital Gibraltar.
"I was thrilled to be asked to become Spirit of Adventure’s godmother and feel I’m accepting this on behalf of the wider medical community who have worked so tirelessly throughout this pandemic and will continue to do so long after this crisis period fades," said Kennedy.
Following the naming ceremony, Spirit of Adventure will embark on its inaugural voyage on 26 July calling at various ports around the UK.
Euan Sutherland, Saga group chief executive, added: Nothing could be more fitting: everyone in the nation has been through the most trying 18 months and it is thanks to the hard work of our medical and scientific communities that we are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.
“When considering our choice for godmother, we wanted to recognise this vital work and pay due respect to it. Commodore Kennedy has given a lifetime of service to nursing and our armed forces and it will be a privilege to watch her send Spirit of Adventure on her way.”