AN INSPIRING Alloa man who completed a solo sailing trip around the UK will be hosting a big screen presentation in the town in January.

Murdoch McGregor, who completed the feat at the age of 82 with his small yacht Artemis, will be recalling the journey during a special event at St Mungo's Parish Church in his home town.

The evening will go ahead from 7.15pm on Tuesday, January 10, with proceeds to go to church funds.

As reported at the time, the intrepid explorer completed the challenge in 10 weeks, raising thousands of pounds for Mental Health UK in the process.

He received a hero's welcome at Alloa Harbour, the very spot that inspired him as a youngster.

A late developer, Murdoch only started sailing at the age of 72 but with just a year's experience under his belt, he had circled Scotland from the river Forth via the Caledonian Canal where he wandered the Western Isles returning via Cape Wrath, the remote North coast and the Pentland Firth.

A year later he found himself on the Island of St Kilda, which sits 45 miles outside the Outer Hebrides. A trip over the Baltic Sea was to follow, taking Murdoch as far east as Poland and then up the Oder Havel Canal to the centre of Berlin – as highlighted at the time.

There is a tale from every port of call from his circumnavigation of the UK and he is believed to be the eldest person to have completed the feat solo.

When he stepped back ashore in Alloa more than a year ago, Murdoch told the Advertiser: “When I'm away I totally immerse myself in the romance of the sea, the power of the sea – everything that the sea is, it's one of the great elements that's been here for millions and millions of years.”

Murdoch was hailed as an inspiration by many, including Alloa Round Table chairman John Dornan who surprised him with a cheque for £1,000 on his return, which was added to the charitable funds.

Tickets for the talk on January 10 are priced at £4, including refreshments, and are available at the door.