Peter Mason, MWH technical director in the U.K., recently re-cycled a nearly 300-mile trek he first completed 50 years ago. Peter and a group of his friends from Hayes Grammar school—Greg Dyke, Dave Hornby, John Brooks—then 15, originally embarked on the two-week journey in 1962, cycling along the hills of Devon and Cornwall and staying in youth hostels on the south coast.
On the second journey, which started on June 23, 2012, the group peaked at 50 miles in one day, which “was enough,” says Peter. On this journey they were also joined by schoolmates John Matthews, Robert Wallis and Ron Crisp, and stayed at some of the same places from 50 years ago.
“It was fun,” says Peter. “Although at times going up the long steep hills in Devon and Cornwall felt like a near-death experience.”
The ride wasn’t just an opportunity to reconnect and remember old times. Greg Dyke used the ride as an opportunity to raise money for Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO)) to support employment projects for child soldiers and young people affected by the civil war in northern Uganda. Greg’s wife was a VSO volunteer in Uganda in 1968, and he has exceeded his fundraising goal of £35,000. Greg told the Hayes Gazette about the ride: “The bikes are better and the gears are better, but our bodies are not.”
“It was great spending so much time with ex-schoolmates and we were all amazed at how well we still got on together after 50 years,” says Peter.
You can read more about the fundraising efforts at www.justgiving.com/50yearson-for-VSO.
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| The original crew in 1962. Peter Mason is on the left. | The crew in 2012. Peter Mason is once again on the left. |
