A MEMORIAL service will celebrate the life of a Dorset sailor who died attempting to fulfil his lifelong dream of sailing the world's oceans.

Ken Halls, of West Moors, was on the final leg of an epic round-the-world trip on board his yacht Mystic Lady when he was swept overboard by a freak wave.

He and two other crew members were sailing from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town when the incident happened on July 26.

At first, his devastated family clung to the slim hope that he had managed to reach the coast but they have now taken the heartbreaking step of organising a memorial service to mark his death.

His grieving partner Louise Facer, who has twin daughters, and his children Claire Harrison and Mark Halls are asking people to wear colourful clothes at the service on Saturday, October 29.

The date of the service coincides with the time when 68-year-old Ken was expected to return home to Poole.

Claire, who lives in Southbourne, said: "We were slightly anxious when he set off on his trip in November 2003 because it was such a brave and adventurous thing to do.

"But we had grown in confidence as he progressed and it became clear how much experience he had gained.

"It was a terrible shock when the accident happened so close to his return."

Former RAF pilot Ken was reunited with Louise and her daughters and with his children and three grandchildren when the family travelled out to New Zealand last year.

Claire said: "We have some very special memories from that time together - it was wonderful.

"He would never be beaten by anything. He loved a challenge and if something didn't work, he would fix it.

"He was very practical and he had a real love of motorcycling.

"And he told me he enjoyed every day of his working life as a pilot. He loved flying."

The memorial service will be held at Southbourne Methodist Church at 3pm.

First published: October 19