A GREAT-grandfather with itchy feet has just been round the world in 84 days - with a three-month break in Australia in the middle.

Retired builder Jack Parsons, 78, left his Ferndown home in March to embark on a cargo ship - which is now being scrapped - with only four other passengers and a crew of 35.

But former Royal Navy radar plotter Jack was no stranger to the high seas, the other side of the world or the roving life.

He served on aircraft carrier HMS Venerable in the Pacific and was present when the Japanese surrendered at Kowloon.

In the '60s he took his children out of school and became a "£10 Pomm", emigrating to Australia on the assisted passage scheme.

His building business took off there and he made a characteristic 28-day tour of Oz before family ill-health brought him back to Dorset.

He and his wife Margaret made two more extended stays in the '70s and, when she died three years ago after 50 years of marriage, Jack thought again about a long trip.

Daughter Lynne Jones and her sisters had concerns about his arthritis, high blood pressure and heart problem. And they were asked to make arrangements for his body to be repatriated, should he die.

"There's no doctor on the ship so it was a bit of a worry," she said.

"But his own doctor gave him a clean bill of health and it's what he really wanted to do."

He travelled over 30,000 miles at sea - having his photo taken at the most remote spot on earth, furthest from habitation - and 17,000 by train and plane as he criss-crossed Australia. Again.

"I loved it - it was so peaceful," he said.

"I had never been on the southern ocean."

At £5,000 his trip cost a quarter of a luxury liner voyage but he preferred it this way, being endlessly fascinated by the ship itself and the workings of the container ports.

"I have been in a luxury liner but it's like a holiday camp," he said.

"This way you mix with the crew and see what's happening. You have got the run of the ship."

Lynne believes the voyage has helped Jack come to terms with Margaret's loss.

"She would have been pleased that he's been back and done what he really wanted to do," she said.