Words : Kevin Mansell Photos : Michal Madera , Julie Perren , Nicky Mansell and Sarah Hollingworth
Toby and Kevin in Greenland
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TOBY
‘ Moderate Becoming Good Later ’
Words : Kevin Mansell Photos : Michal Madera , Julie Perren , Nicky Mansell and Sarah Hollingworth
Toby wasn ’ t particularly well-behaved at our wedding in 1982 . He appeared to spend significant amounts of time filling glasses with food while making a mess of the table . Toby was 11 months old and had been encouraged into these mischievous antics by sister Katie and brother Marcus . With an infectious grin , he could get away with almost anything , his blond hair contributing to his angelic looks .
Fast forward 35 years and the untimely death of older brother Marcus to cancer due to Fanconi Anaemia , a genetic disorder that Toby also had . Marcus ’ s death was a terrible loss but not unexpected , and this spurred Toby into making plans for the future , which included paddling in all the Shipping Forecast areas . By then , he was already an accomplished sea kayaker , well respected in his local paddling community .
Toby became a kayaker almost by accident . In 2011 Toby and Katie arrived in Jersey on Christmas Eve morning . For as long as I can remember , Christmas Eve lunch has always been at the Corbiere Phare , a great restaurant with sweeping views of the west coast of Jersey . Light winds , a lack of swell , several beers and bright December sunshine encouraged us to go and jump off the pier at St Brelade ’ s . Toby was always up for a challenge , so the pier jumping was followed by , “ You should come out on the Canoe Club Boxing Day paddle .”
This was a tradition stretching back to the 1970s . Toby ’ s paddling experience , at the time , could best be described as non-existent . So it was with amazing confidence that he slipped into a Nordkapp HM before we headed off to Noirmont Point to play in the tidal race . He had great faith in the coaches and leaders of the Jersey Canoe Club . His trust was well placed because when he fell in , there was a race to get him back in his kayak .
Toby and Kevin in Greenland
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