Heart and sole

4:11pm Thursday 18th September 2008

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A HEREFORDSHIRE fundraiser has been declared “the wettest man ever to enter a Northumberland pub” after abandoning a charity cycle ride.

Phil Martin, aged 63, of Wellington Heath, entered the Twice Brewed Inn in Once Brewed, to discover he had filled his boots in more ways than one after riding through floods.

Not only had Phil raised around £600 to benefit the bank balance of the Noah’s Ark Trust, he also discovered a less welcome deposit in his drenched footwear after taking refuge at the hostelry.

“When I got to the pub the landlord said I was the wettest person ever to enter his pub and that’s quite something because it is serious walking country,” said Phil.

“I went into my room and poured water out of my boots into the sink.

“I had passed through floods, seen a tree trunk float down a river, and ridden over places where water had washed the tarmac off – it was a nightmare.”

Phil had planned to cycle from the most westerly point in Britain to the most easterly – a journey of nearly 600 miles.

“The original plan was to cycle from Lowestoft Ness to Ardnamurchan Point in Scotland,” said Phil “What finally finished it was I had problems with the brakes. That, plus the rain.

“I made the decision to turn left at Gretna Green and ducked on a train.”

Despite the experience, Phil is determined to try again next year to help the charity, which provides help for children going through bereavement.

l Meanwhile, 78-year-old John Tupper was so toe-tally committed to raising money for charity he embarked on an unexpected second leg of a fundraising tour.

John postponed his original trip having fractured his toe en-route but was determined to fulfil his promise and raise £2,500 for the Hereford Freemasons’ grand charity festival appeal.

He finished the Pembrokeshire coast hike weeks later, alongside a camper van driven by friend Graham Millichip for support.

Mr Tupper said: “When the accident happened I was concerned that I would let my sponsors down but my toes, and Graham and I, are now pleased to have completed it and we can all rest a while.”

Mr Tupper, who is a member of the Palladian Lodge Freemasons, was met by National Trust staff after trekking 186 miles from Amroth near Saundersfoot to Poppit Sands in Cardigan.