Meet Ali Kefford – the Southern Daily Echo’s very own Kate Winslet!

In what is believed to be a civilian first, the paper’s chief feature writer struck the famous pose from Titanic on HMS Southampton as the Type-42 destroyer sailed from Dubai.

Official pictures of the crew (with Ali, right and below) were being taken to mark the end of their mammoth seven-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf where they have been taking part in the war against terrorism.

Just before the end of the shoot, commanding officer Cdr Gary Doyle propelled the journalist to the bow of the ship in front of the 240-strong crew and told her to “do a Winslet”.

“Who was I to disobey a direct order?” said Ali.

“The photographer was in a helicopter. When the pictures had been taken the pilot dipped the Lynx down near the water to ensure I got covered in spray, waved, then flew off chuckling.”

Ali was on board HMS Southampton for two and a half weeks, sailing between Dubai and Malta.

She filed daily dispatches on the destroyer’s role as the air defence escort to HMS Illustrious.

The 30-year-old, who has been with the Southern Daily Echo in Southampton for three years, has been twice shortlisted for the Desmond Wettern Maritime Media Award for her stories about the ship.

She is also the current BT South West feature writer of the year.

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