My Hero - Alec Rose

[Ednamay]

I understand Meridian are going to present something about this ex-matelot / greengrocer / single-handed sailor from Southsea, and his boat, next week - unfortunately I was interrupted by a telephone call and missed the detail - breathlessly awaiting more information.

Edna

[jainso31]

Come now Edna-you may as well put us/me out of our misery and "fess up"-
don't get Meridian unfortunately.It certainly sounded interesting-was it??

jainso31

[Ednamay]

Still waiting - I think it is on Meridian news from the south this evening, so I shall be watching just in case.

I shall always admire this ex-navy man as he arranged for the care of his greengrocery business and went off on his voyage, without any of the hype of Francis Chichester and all the followers.

May his name never be lost!

Edna

[jainso31]

Edna
I do hope,after building our anticipation up to Hi Doh; that you will give us a full report about this programme, that you favoured folk in the southern part of the country will be able to see.

jainso31

[Ednamay]

Thanks for your interest.
Meridian News South; Sir Alec Rose and Lively Lady

For a brief news slot, they managed to get over the basic facts and some good visual material, obviously not much so I will expand.

During the war Alec Rose served in the navy, I believe he was a diesel mechanic. He was a keen weekend sailor, in between running his greengrocery business with his wife, Dorothy, and was inspired to join the 1964 Transatlantic Race so he bought Lively Lady and had some alterations made, particularly mast and rigging. He was very surprised to find himself fourth, having seen very little of the other entrants. (Hints from Raymarine).

When Francis Chichester announced he was going to sail single-handed to Australia, Alec Rose felt challenged to do likewise - and visit his son there. Unfortunately he had several setbacks and was a year late setting out but made it eventually and got back to Portsmouth on 4th July 1968 (354 days according to Wikipedia) to a hero’s welcome and a civic reception. Later he was awarded the
Freedom of the City and was knighted by the Queen.

Alec Rose wrote two books to describe his journey and was invited to become Admiral of the Ocean Cruising Club. He died in 1991 but is commemorated in street names and house names in Portsmouth and Gosport, and also by the Raymarine Lively Lady Project, helping young people turn their lives around.

For a more detailed account of Alec Rose, refer to
Sir Alec Rose /harry.gibbon / Naval Obituaries

Edna

[jainso31]

Edna
Such a heart warming wee story of the bulldog spirit that is truly British-we salute you Sir Alec Rose-the rise and rise of the ordinary man.
Thank you very much for the resumee.

jainso31

[jonti]

This note is posted elsewhere in the Forum but it's worth repeating. The day Alec Rose sailed through the entrance "The Heads" of Port Philip Bay, to berth in Melbourne was the day that Harold Holt, the Prime Minister of Australia walked into the ocean at Cheviot Beach, never to be seen again.
Harold and his "good friend & neighbour" Mrs Gillispee had walked down from their respective beach houses to see Alec Rose and the story goes that Harold wanted to impress his friend that he was as macho as Alec so he entered the ocean to scuba-dive when conditions were against him with fatal results. My family and I were on a beach further up the bay and knew something was up when all the helicopters appeared. An indelible memory for me. Rob T

[Ednamay]

Thanks for your responses; my late husband, like Alec Rose, was a member of the Portsmouth Sailing Club in Old Portsmouth, but we were unable to get to Southsea to see his return and I have always regretted it.

Edna