Round the World trip for the millennium

Greenwich, 11 December 1998   

Greenwich has witnessed many epic voyages including those of Sir Francis Drake and Sir Francis Chichester.  Francis Drake was knighted by after she had witnessed the return of the Golden Hind from the Royal Palace in Greenwich.   The same palace in which she and her father were born.  Today a replica of Drake's famous vessel can be seen on the River Thames between London Bridge and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.  Francis Chichester was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II using the same sword Elizabeth I had knighted Drake with on the Meridian Line in Greenwich. Chichester's vessel Gypsy Moth IV can still be seen in dry dock at Greenwich today.

Today was something special; another moment in royal and naval history.  A epic sailor sailing off around the globe and being seen off by the son of Queen Elizabeth II.  Trevor Jones who was injured in an accident 10 years ago is attempting to sail around the world, despite the fact that he is wheel-chair bound.   He is also aiming to raise funds for the children's charity UFO.

In a specially designed craft which is the pride of British naval architecture with unique modern sailing system Trevor and his small crew set sail on their world millennium run crossing the meridian line as they passed the Millennium Dome and into the sunset across the River Thames.  Following the same course that has been used by countless generations; including the Pilgrim Fathers on their historic voyage.

Earlier Trevor was seen off by a host of personalities including HRH Prince Andrew, who a week earlier had re-opened the Royal Observatory at Greenwich.

Other personalities included Dame Barbara Cartland (a close relative of Princess Diana), Anika Rice (from TV's Treasure Hunt) and Valerie Singleton, who for many years presented the BBC TV children's program Blue Peter. is now launching many millennium activities for children in the UK.

Trevor is President of the UFO a charity set-up to develop modern millennium villages for under privileged children in the Third World.

We wish Trevor well on his epic voyage and will maintain track of his progress.