I have a history of taking up sporting and adventurous activities a bit late in life – rugby at 37, kayaking at 46, and horse riding at 57. Now, at 78, I feel I still have many challenges ahead to add to those of the past.

I have tried many activities over the past 60 years, including mountaineering with the Austrian Alpine Club, diving as a British Sub-Aqua Club Advanced Instructor, endurance horse riding in France and Ireland, motor cycling from London to Istanbul and back, and trekking alone up to 6900 metres (19,000 feet) around the holy mountain of  Kailas in Tibet. With my wife Joy I travelled ‘overland’ through twenty countries from London to Sydney, then across Australia and back.

Cycling has been my main activity since giving up horse riding at 64. In 2007 I cycled the 120-mile first stage of the Tour de France (a week before the race!) and 580 miles from London to Edinburgh via the Pennine Cycle Way. In 2009, with my son James, I cycled 983 miles in nine days from Land’s End to John o’Groats, a day quicker than a team of Royal Marines. James and I have also walked 85 miles along Hadrian’s Wall and cycled 100 miles off-road along the South Downs Way.

In 2012 I cycled Britain’s oldest road, The Ridgeway, a 137-mile off-road round trip; the 180-mile London Revolution; and the 110-mile Ring of Kerry in Ireland. I’ve also ridden the classic climbs of Mont Ventoux, Col du Tourmalet, Hautacam and Alpe d’Huez; and many charity sportives and challenges, including the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey100.  

In recent years I have also pursued my other sit-down activity, kayaking. Although I started kayaking over 30 years ago, the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic in 2012 was my first event, a non-stop paddle of 111km (69 miles) down the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales from Windsor to Brooklyn. As it is a tidal river, about half the distance involved paddling against the incoming tide. To prepare for it I paddled over 200 km (125 miles) on the river and in the sea; and I raised over £550 (A$1000) for the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation.

In 2015 I did a unique source-to-sea ‘triathlon’ on the River Severn: 8 miles walking from the source in Wales down to Llanidloes, 60 miles paddling an inflatable kayak down to Shrewsbury (with a friend), 105 miles paddling a sea kayak down to Gloucester, then 40 miles cycling to the Severn Bridge. 

In 2018 I completed the Three Lakes Challenge by paddling the longest lakes in Wales (Bala, 7 miles out and return), England (Windermere, 11 miles), and Scotland (Loch Awe, 25 miles).

My present challenge is to paddle the tideway of the River Thames from Teddington to Greenwich. The London Regatta, when the Thames Barrier will be raised to make the tideway into a linear lake, will be a great opportunity to complete the last section of the Thames in comparative safety, and otherwise only permissible under strict Port of London Authority regulations. (The rest of my intended descent from the source in Gloucestershire may have to wait until after the event.)

It is a pleasure to support Thames21 because of this charity’s important aim of improving the quality of life of people in the community and by enhancing waterways environments, especially in the catchment of the Thames, one of Europe’s great rivers and a symbol of London that is recognisable worldwide.

I have pledged to raise £300 for Thames21. Even though I will be paddling the Thames tideway as a personal challenge, your support for my chosen charity would be much appreciated.