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Yorkshire's Jim Morton has reached Kent and visited his old navy station at The Historic Dockyard Chatham

By: Alex Langridge alangridge@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 15:49, 06 April 2022

Updated: 08:09, 07 April 2022

A navy veteran who is taking on a 7,500-mile trek around the British coastline has visited his old Kent stomping ground.

Jim Morton set off from his home in Penistone, South Yorkshire, last April on his adventure and has finally reached the county this week.

Read more!

Listen as Jim talks about his trip

Yesterday, the 61-year-old visited Chatham Dockyard where he was stationed from 1978 to 1981.

When based in the Towns, he was on the frigate HMS Scylla before moving to HMS Pembroke where he worked in the leadership school at the barracks.

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Jim said: "I am really, really loving the last few days. I did not get any walking done yesterday because I spent all day at The Historic Dockyard where I was based in the 70s.

"So it was a trip down memory lane for me."

After his navy career, Jim lived in Medway and worked on the Isle of Grain for a lorry parts company and then had a bar job at The King's Arms in Rochester.

Since his Kent arrival on Saturday, he and his wife Sue have been staying at the Medway Yacht Club in Upnor.

Jim worked on the HMS Gurkha. Picture: The Historic Dockyard Chatham
Jim was stationed at the dockyard during his naval career. Picture: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

They are now on their way to Maidstone where they will be meeting the Gurkhas stationed at the barracks there.

Since embarking on his journey, Jim has walked 5,750 miles and worn out three sets of walking boots and one pair of shoes but says Sue has the hardest job.

He added: "All I do is put my boots on, leave the motor home and go off walking all day.

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"My wife has to get the 7.5m-long motor home down little country lanes, drive it to wherever she is going to meet me at the end of the day sort out a campsite or somebody's drive to stay on.

"Just everything she would do to run a normal home but that was at home rather than being all four wheels and moving."

Jim has decided to use his lifelong dream to raise money for the Gurkha Welfare Trust as they rebuild villages devastated by an earthquake in Nepal.

Jim visited the Medway Messenger office
Sue and their two Westies are following Jim in a motor home. Picture: Jim Morton

The charity works to enable Gurkha veterans, their families and wider communities to live their lives with dignity.

At the time of writing, the fundraising page had reached more than £18,000 which is enough for the organisation to build two new houses. If you wish to donate you can do so here.

You can follow his journey on his Facebook, "I may be gone a while", here.

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