A TV programme brought tears to the eyes of Leigh man Ray Gorton as he watched a documentary featuring the sinking of a Royal Navy warship.

For Ray, 63, of Organ Street, saw his past flash before his eyes as the programme featured the huge aircraft carrier HMS Glorious on which his father, Flight Sergeant Joe Gorton, served - and died - in the Second World War.

Ray was only a baby at the time but he still felt tears in his eyes when he saw his name scroll up the TV screen in the list of the men who died when it was sunk by German torpedoes.

But HMS Glorious means something even more personal for Ray and his family. For its watery grave is also the last resting place of their mum Winifred, who died 10 years ago at the age of 87.

With special permission from the Admiralty and with the co-operation of the Navy, her ashes, in a special casket, were shipped to the site of HMS Glorious off the Norwegian coast. After a service on HMS Liverpool she was buried at sea in a poignant ceremony led by the destroyer's captain.

Ray said: "My mum had always said she wanted to be allowed to rejoin my dad when she died, and thanks to Atherton, Leigh and Tyldesley Soldiers, Sailors and Air Force Association the arrangements were made with the Royal Navy.

"It wasn't easy to arrange and, in fact, I believe it was the first time it had ever been allowed in the history of the Navy. Wherever a ship sinks in wartime is considered a war grave and no civilians are ever allowed to be buried there.

"When I saw the TV programme I was very emotional. It brought lots of memories back to me and my family. I have video-taped the programme which showed vintage footage of the ship, including firing its guns and then being hit and sunk. It was a very, very strange feeling to know that my dad had been on that ship when it was sunk.

"I will always keep it as a memento of where my dad and my mum are buried."

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