Gordon Worley finds a hull new world
THIS week's Pride In Peterborough front page has been presented to gutsy pensioner Gordon Worley, who won't let his age or disability stop him from completing a difficult task.
THIS week's Pride In Peterborough front page has been presented to gutsy pensioner Gordon Worley, who won't let his age or disability stop him from completing a difficult task.The remarkable octogenarian is celebrating become a solo sailor at the age of 83 – a feat he couldn't even contemplate when both his legs were amputated due to diabetes five years ago.
But with his steely determination and the help of Sailability , a Peterborough charity which gives disabled people the chance to experience the thrill of sailing, he can nowskipper a boat by himself and has been trying out his new skills on the lapping waters of Ferry Meadows.
Gordon, a former postal executive from Benyon Grove, Orton Malborne, joked that he was originally "tricked" into learning the ropes aftermaking a DVD of the group as part of the U3A's camcorder club.
The filmcrew asked himif he could go out on a trimaran.
The grandfather of two had never sailed before and could not see how he could get in a boat with his prosthetic limbs.
However, after some gentle persuasion, he had a go and took to it instantly.
The volunteers found easier ways of getting him in and out of the boat and hewent sailingwith the aid of a buddy.
He gradually started to try steering and two years' later , after practising every Tuesday, he is now a solo sailor .
He said: "I feel peaceful when I get out on the water on the boating lake, where you are away fromeverybody.
"I feel like a normal person again."
He thanked Sailability for their guidance and said mastering the sail was one of the toughest challenges.
He said: "It was a great feeling when I did it and they told me I could sail solo."
Gordon's world was turned upside down when he lost both his legs below the knee in 2004.
Diabetes had meant he had developed gangrene in his toes and a serious infection in his heel, leaving him housebound. Doctors told himthe only option was amputation.
After the initial shock and adjustment, he decided to take life by the horns.
He said: "I had two roads to go down – the miserable road or to make something of myself.
"You have just got to carry on." Wife June (79) said she was very proud of him.
She said: "Gordon says that when he is on the water , he does not need his legs.
"This gives him two days a week to be able to get out in the fresh air and really enjoy himself.
"We thank the volunteers who do a grand job."
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Weather for Peterborough
Friday 19 March 2010
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C - 14 C
Wind Speed: 16 Knots
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C - 14 C
Wind Speed: 19 Knots
Wind direction: South west
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