114
? ? ? ? ? ?? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ?
115
? ? ? ? ? ?? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ?
waves crashing against the coast. What a way to finish !
Society for their fantastic support without which Gerty
I cannot begin to describe how fulfilling the journey
and I would not have been able to complete this epic
who were fortunate enough to be
was and what it felt like to take my wrecked bicycle from
journey. We have raised nearly £25,000 for the Royal
in her care as Matron in the Benson
resurrection to completion of a dream. I am enormously
Marsden Cancer Campaign and still the money comes in.
ows as Peggy
through the 50’s and 60’s and into the
grateful to all my friends, family, patients and the
D’Arch-Smith and to Bensonians as
70’s. Former Bensonians sent cards
Mrs D’Arch, celebrated her 100th
from all over the world and Peggy’s
birthday at home in Bembridge, Isle of
sitting room was a sea of colourful
Wight. The day started with ’phone
reminders when the Secretary visited
calls from the Master and from
in July and struggled to keep pace
Anthony Bruce, Chairman of the ow
with Peggy’s amazingly energy. No
Society, who was a Bn boy in Peggy’s
surprise that Peggy was writing long
early days.
newsy letters as part of her daily
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ( ? ’ ? ?? ? - ? ? ? ? ? ) ? ? ?
n 3rd June 2008 Peggy
O
Crickmay, known to generations of
A succession of parties featuring
ow
Richard Howard-Jones [T 1993-1998]
? ? ? ?? ??? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ?
tanding in the check-in queue at Gatwick airport surrounded by lots of other nervous look-
issue people faced was their feet. I went to great lengths
ing people all carrying the same red backpacks
S
The 50°c degree heat was a concern, but the biggest
to avoid the savage blisters that people suffered from.
routine to each and everyone who
and cradling water bottles,
Training without socks and
sent a card.
family and friends was effortlessly un-
it was clear that the event
with sand sprinkled into the
I stupidly applied for was
shoes may have appeared
about to start.
dertaken as befits a lady who was walk-
Peggy’s daughter Nicola and family
ing three miles a day through her 90’s.
live in Wales and the away leg of her
button and has almost total recall of all the Benson boys
There are
very odd at the time, but it
100th was celebrated with a holiday there in August.
easier ways of setting your-
was well worth the effort. I
Congratulations to Peggy and now take a fresh guard !
self a challenge and shedding
witnessed people with blisters
a bit of excess weight (the in-
Peggy still does all her own cooking, is bright as a
upon blisters, and some feet
evitable result of years spent
had literally cracked from
at a desk), but I had decided
toe to heel, so not picking
?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
E
verything started on 2nd
by my father, Nigel Howard-Jones [T
to take part in the Marathon
up even a single sore spot or
January 2008 with the
1961–1965] and my eldest sister at
des Sables, a self sufficient
chafe allowed me to enjoy the
fire at the Royal Marsden
different times. The van was to cover
154
experience enormously.
2,662 miles on the round trip !
through the Sahara desert.
The 154 miles was split
into 6 stages and the route
where I work as a Therapeutic
mile
ultra
marathon
Radiographer treating cancer pa-
In all we cycled for 11 days covering
My training started a
tients. Unfortunately the fire caused
987 miles cycling for up to 12 hours a
full year before the race and
was
carefully
serious damage to the hospital and
day. The most gruelling day by far was
I struggled to complete 5
with
the
destroyed my bike, Gerty. However,
the first day when we were hindered
miles.
However with great
from enormous sand dunes,
my journey with Gerty was to epito-
by mechanical faults and then pushed
advice from other
ows such
mountainous passes and end-
mise the experience of one of my pa-