The Final Day Today is a day that will live long in the memory. For the team of 5 it started with the usual sore legs, full cooked breakfast, application of cream, intake of Ibuprofen and pumping of tyres. Meanwhile scores of friends, family, pupils and teachers were also getting ready for the last leg – probably with a lot less fuss. We met at Bletchley Park, home of the codebreakers. Fred Howe, the facilities manager, had kindly agreed to allow us to start from this historic landmark. To the team’s delight Berkhamsted School had raised a cohort of riders, a peloton 50 strong; ranging considerably in age from junior pupils to (senior) members of staff! After photos outside the mansion, with t-shirts donned, we set off. At this point, a special mention should go to Doug Foster who masterminded the last leg – we avoided busy roads and took in the countryside of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire in all its glory. However, Doug didn’t get the memo to avoid Ivinghoe Beacon. The Beacon climb didn’t finish off the Cougar though; instead – with the finish insight - she roared past Cotton’s Red Baron, for the first time all tour. She is now disassembled and en route to Singapore for a deserved sabbatical. The riders eased into the Ashridge Estate and onto Berkhamsted entering the School together through the arch, to a sea of support. A sumptuous barbeque was gobbled up in the garden as the rain threatened, but soon abated. Dingers’ clearly had a profound impact on those who met him; it was incredible to hear about Eddie Bentley and his friend Adam Smith’s charitable efforts from John O’Groats to Lands End (without a support vehicle). And on what would have been Dingers’ 30th birthday this was a fantastic celebration of many of his qualities; there was plenty of encouragement, effort and teamwork on display by all those who took part, those who helped organise and those who supported. The team’s thanks goes out to you all. Through your generosity we are on course to raise a substantial sum which should make the lecture series a fixture in the School’s calendar. I hope to see many of you at the first one! More to follow…
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 20:17:13 +0000
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