Staff at the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, were thrilled to welcome legendary British entertainer Tommy Steele last week, during a break from appearing at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.
Tommy Steele who served a brief spell in the Merchant Navy at the age of 15, was keen to see the dockyard once more after his last visit 30 years ago. He was particularly keen to see the Nelson gallery and it has to be said that he bears an uncanny resemblance to the heroic Admiral Nelson (see attached)!
Graham Dobbin, Chief Operations Officer at the museum commented: “It was a delight to welcome Tommy Steele back to the Museum and HMS Victory and to show him the transformation since his last visit. He really enjoyed 'The Trafalgar Experience' and was extremely knowledgeable about the Navy of Nelson's day.”
Founded in 1911, the Royal Naval Museum is one of the country’s leading maritime museums and is the only museum devoted to the ships of the Royal Navy and the men and women who served in them. Visitors can see, touch, hear and even smell the history of the Royal Navy through a rich collection of artefacts and award-winning permanent exhibitions.
Steele is currently starring in Bill Kenwright’s acclaimed touring production of Scrooge which visited the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, last week. His performances at the London Palladium in Scrooge sent him into the record books as the star to have headlined the most performances at London’s famous theatre and a prestigious plaque was mounted at the Palladium to honour this extraordinary achievement.
Steele’s career includes over twenty hit singles, Hollywood movie hits such as The Happiest Millionaire and Finian’s Rainbow, and countless award-winning stage musicals such as Half a Sixpence, Hans Andersen and Singing in the Rain.
Photos courtesy of Stephen Courtney
