History of Portsmouth city to new developments such as Paulsgrove and Leigh Park. On 4 July 1968, an estimated 250,000 people witnessed the return of Alec Rose, a greengrocer in Osborne Road, after he completed his single-handed circumnavigation in "Lively Lady"; he was immediately knighted and made a Freeman of the city. 400 motor-boats, yachts, catamarans and canoes welcomed him into harbour. The University of Portsmouth gained university status in 1992 In 2003 erection was started of a 552 feet high Spinnaker Tower sited at Portsmouth Harbour, and celebrating the city's maritime tradition. Completed in 2005, the tower has twin concrete legs meeting
Third-oldest university in England debate fourth oldest university institution". The debate also spilled over into Scotland in 2007, when The Guardian mistakenly called Durham the "third oldest university in the UK" (rather than in England). In 2016, "Durham Magazine" published an article on the debate, concluding that "Despite all the above arguments, most people consider Durham to be England’s third oldest university". "The Telegraph" noted the debate in 2018, saying "Durham University claims to be the third oldest university in England (a title also claimed by University College London)". Judging a university's "foundation" as occurring at the earliest point to which teaching can be traced,