Last of London's sailmakers wins famous Victory

The last traditional sailmaker operating in London is celebrating after winning a contract to help restore Admiral Nelson's historic flagship Victory.

Mike Putt, who still works six days a week at the age of 81, is to produce 56 large rope covers, called shroud ends. He and his four-strong team have also been asked to make four anchor buoys from wicker and four mast coats. They are mainly made from canvas.

He said at his workshop in Dagenham: "It is a top job to get work on the Victory. This is the pinnacle for me.
I love working on these boats. It's my life."

Mr Putt, from Grays, Essex, has been making sails, and other fittings for ships for 65 years, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, a shipwright in Salcombe, Devon.

Other sailmakers in London gave up their work 40 years ago, leaving only Mr Putt and his team, which includes his son Ian, 45.

They have been producing sails and ropes for tourist attraction the Cutty Sark since it was placed in dry dock at Greenwich in 1957.

HMS Victory is in dry dock at Portsmouth's Royal Naval Dockyard where it is open to the public.