LIFE is plain sailing for a Greenock teenager who has embarked on an exciting global voyage.

It’s full steam ahead for Aleigh Houston, who will travel round the world after being selected to work as a cadet onboard Cunard’s luxury ocean liner the Queen Victoria.

The 18-year-old former Aileymill Primary School and Inverclyde Academy pupil will join the majestic vessel in Chile, South America, before travelling to New Zealand, Australia and other countries around the Pacific and Indian Ocean before disembarking in Venice in mid-July.

Her proud dad, John Houston, said it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for his daughter.

He told the Tele: “I was in bits saying goodbye to her. It was quite emotional.

“But she’s going to have an absolute blast travelling the world and learning in the process, and we are immensely proud of her. 

“It’s a chance of a lifetime and she’s grabbing it with both hands.”

Aleigh, a former Greenock and District Sea Cadet, has been studying at the Faculty of Nautical Studies at the City of Glasgow College.

John added: “As part of her course she has to go offshore so when the opportunity came up to be a Cunard Cadet she jumped at it.

“While on the Queen Victoria, she will be training to be a deck officer.

“She will be training to be one of the crew who the captain radios to tighten up the ropes of the bow and to be ready for people to disembark.

“Basically the role is to be in charge of the deck.”

John says Aleigh’s time as a sea cadet has been instrumental in paving the way for her career.

He added: “It’s great, they learn how to work as a team.

“Her younger brother Lewis also went through the sea cadets and he’s studying at the same college. He’s also hoping to get sponsored by a company to go offshore.”

Proud dad John says that he’ll never forget the encouragement and support Aleigh received from former Aileymill Primary head teacher Isabel Lind.

He said: “Mrs Lind was brilliant.

“She had a big hand in Aleigh’s success.”