Baby Ollie’s youngest to back £40k ship refurb

HE’S only two weeks old but Ollie Gellatly’s family know he was born to explore.

He is the youngest-known supporter of the fundraising campaign to raise £40,000 for the refurbishment of RRS Discovery.

Dad Ali, 33, is the education officer at Dundee Heritage Trust and a lifelong lover of the ship and its history.

He wanted to pass this passion on to his son and so, along with wife Roxy, 26, pledged money in Ollie’s name for the campaign.

Ollie was born on November 8, two weeks ago, but was already pledging his support at just a few days old.

Ali, from Douglas, said: “I was three when Discovery returned to Dundee. My parents took me down to the beach at Broughty Ferry to see it.

“From a very young age it’s fascinated me and that never really left me. I want Ollie to get that.

“It’s always been a part of my life, it’s a ship from my home town that’s been on some incredible adventures.”

Ali said he spent many happy days of his childhood visiting the ship and learning about it.

He fondly remembers an opportunity to interview Ranulph Fiennes in sixth year, when he made a video about it for his media studies course.

He added: “I managed to get an interview with probably the most famous explorer alive — a memory I cherish.

“I think the Discovery is very much seen as part of the city. It’s where she belongs and people, not just me, strongly identify it as their ship. So it’s part of my son’s heritage as well as his future, and Roxy and I felt it was important to help the campaign. And we did it in his name as it’s now his first links to the ship, even younger than mine were.”

Ali spent years unaware that his hobby could be his job and so only joined the team a year ago as education officer, but now spends his days working to promote the ship he loves.

He hopes Ollie’s crowdfunding involvement kick-starts a similar enthusiasm. The crowdfunding campaign has raised £26,175 of the £40,000 target, with nine days remaining. The team is hopeful the target can be reached, although the campaign is behind schedule.

He added: “It’s going very well and we’ve had some fantastic donations. I’m confident we can keep the support of the community and reach our target with a little more help.”