Hartlepool man Dennis Armes, 68, got to fulfil a life-long dream of taking part in a trip on the tall ship The Lord Nelson.



Dennis, who lost his sight during an accident abroad while working as an electrician in 1971, was in the Merchant Navy for five years in the 1960s.

He said: "It may have been a long time since I was at sea but I soon got my sea legs back.

"Once you have spent time at sea, the routines never leave you.
"I had a fantastic time and certainly didn't let my loss of sight affect my time on board."

Dennis and his fellow crew members, including 10 permanent crew and 30 volunteers from across Teesside and as far away as the USA, docked at the Victoria Jetty at Hartlepool docks yesterday morning.

Waiting for Dennis was his wife, Katie, 65, daughter Elisa Summers, 37, and granddaughter Issey Summers, six, who had both travelled from their home in Cornwall.

Dennis, who lives with his wife in Oakland Avenue, said the highlight of his week-long trip from Den Helder, in the Netherlands, to Hartlepool, had been "sailing from near The Hague to Scarborough in bumpy conditions when the boat was rocking and rolling about in force six or seven gales".

Dennis was helped on the boat by his son-in-law Julian 'Tug' Summers, a warrant officer aircraft controller, who acted as his eyes.

"Tug was my 'buddy' and we had to share a 6ft square cabin, so you can imagine it was quite a squeeze with two grown men in there," said Dennis, whose other daughter, Carolyn Jones, is serving with the Royal Navy in Yeovilton, Somerset.

Dennis said he had also enjoyed the "general seamanship" and catching a record 12 whiting off the back of the boat on Thursday.
But he added: "It's good to be back in Hartlepool. I missed my wife and dogs."

Dennis, who is also grandfather to Charlie, Alfie, Bryn, and Nye, said he was looking forward to 2010 when the town will host the Tall Ships' Races.

He added: "In Den Helder, there must have been 70 ships. It was a really good show with fireworks. I hope we can handle something similar."

Wife Katie, a retired hairdresser, said: "I think it's great that he has achieved his dream. It has been an adventure for him. It's good to have him back."

Forty people will board the Lord Nelson, the Jubilee Sailing Trust's flagship, today for a day sail before she heads back to her home port of Southampton.