FIVE years ago Captain Dennis Titherington was all at sea when it came to golf.

Now he's one of the game's most enthusiastic supporters - which is why colleagues at Mersey Ferries bought their Operations Manager a set of clubs on his retirement.

Dennis has spent 44 years working on the ferries, beginning his career as a deck hand on the old Wallasey Ferries.

The clubs were presented to Captain Titherington at a farewell party aboard the Royal Daffodil.

He said: "In my career I've seen the fortunes of the ferries turn a full circle and I have to say I've never been more optimistic about their future. There's been a multi-million pound refurbishment of the fleet and it's never looked better. The biggest change for me has been the huge increase in leisure cruises with more people from across the world wanting to sail on the legendary Mersey Ferries. The weather has improved too - or rather the visibility. When I began the navigation wasn't quite so sophisticated and deck hands had to spend hours at the bow on look-out in freezing cold filthy fogs. I've often been asked if a ferry captain gets bored - but the fact is that the River Mersey can change its face and mood by the minute. You have to concentrate all the time - there's no time to get bored."

Dennis, who lives in Wallasey, intends to spend more time playing golf with his wife Maureen. But he won't completely sever his ties with his old colleagues.

Dennis is also captain of the Merseytravel Golf Club.