EXPOL 853 by Mick Hicks EXPOL 853 Was the Eventual and Last 100 Miles North
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1 The Newspaper of # the Essex Police Essex policemen raise over &13,000 to help children in need. EXPOL 853 By Mick Hicks EXPOL 853 was the eventual and last 100 miles north. Running the ter runs through the first town, Very generous in the city, taxi fancy name given to an original other way seemed daunting. All Wick, he is going like a train and drivers, late night revellers etc. idea by Frank Ruggles, Dave these thoughts were dissolved by sweating like only Ken does. 0330: Out of the city and Grimshaw and Mike Benning for the warmth of the welcome by Mid afternoon: Weather getting light - past Bilston Glen a huge charity event involving Sergeant George Harper and his cleared now and we are all Colliery - infamous during the Essex policemen. The idea was merry men at Wick, a hotel lapping up the clear air. Phil NUM dispute. Buster Footman for a non stop run from John dinner and a room at the top of Carter the cook loaned to us by suggests plenty of hot tea on this O'Groats to Lands End. the station to sleep. 45 Field Reg Royal Artillary has cold wet morning. Chris, lan and From its conception it was I like the others decided that a joined in a run and is settling in Mick the drivers are doing well intended that a child or children diary of thoughts and actions for with us strangers. Buster Foot- driving and tea making. should be the beneficiaries. The the week was necessary to stop man the Southend United physio 1000: Out in the country, Mike outcome involved both these, the passage of time altering or who is along for obvious reasons Benning and I make our 'phone with the suggestion by Geoff Lee ohscuring what happened. The is impressed by the fitness of the calls to Essex Radio and our of Ongar that little Matthew journey south is described using runners and sees fatigue as the Press Office (daily duty!!). Kayne a local cerebral palsey excerpts from my diary which I major problem. 1130: Up to the summit of victim, should be provided with a tried to keep up as events took Late afternoon: Descended Devils Beef Tub. Spectacular, walking brace and that BBC place. upon the tiny police station at although I doubt if Buster and Children in Need Fund should Helmsdale and set up the field Mike Benning thought so, they receive the remainder. Sunday June 1 kitchen. All hands helping with ran up it. Steve Woods and 853 was the number of miles an enormous stew. Mervyn Fairweather picked up Hotel breakfast - good to for the journey, at least accord- 2000: 'A' Squad leave on the blisters running down it. ing to the route supplied by the have a solid start, then all hands coach for a night's sleep at Loch Early pm: Moffat - lovely AA computer, and 20 was the sorting stores and equipment Ness. (The plan demanded that town, clean, tidy with gentle number of runners needed to do before the ten mile trip to John half the team slept each night so pleasant people. Borders TV it. One reserve runner, a hack up O'Groats. First problem. The that everybody slept every other arrived to film for their evening cannister of stew supplied bythe team of 10 and four vehicles .nioht). -. - , . news. Steve Woods feeling it a bit while relieving himself. Came out Friday June 6 completed the team that made army for Sunday night has putri- and was not improved by quicker than he went in. the journey. There is neither fied which vindicates complaints Monday June 2 Buster's 'operation' on his hlis- 2100: Pleasant, quiet evening 0500: This it it, everyone up early, the night runners are near time nor space to detail the about the smell on the coach, 0745: Inverness. First major ters carried out on top of a through Shropshire cattle now, so its all into running kit for mammoth admin task taken on thrown away - even the seagulls re-think. Two of the night run- concrete waste bin on the A74. country, spoiled by Mike Ben- the big finish. by the gang of three 'originals', refuse it. ners meet us to say that they are Late pm: Running on the A74 ning falling over and cutting but it took six months to arrange 1000: John O'Groats: No won- hours ahead of schedule. Col- is dangerous, rather like going himself. John Seavers took him 0700: On the coach, passed the last runner Keith Fitzjohn a few accommodation, transport, fuel, der everyone runs, walks, hops lected £20 in Inverness and jogging on the A13. Ken Foster to Leominster Hospital. Not food, collection permits, rail tick- and cycles away from here, its a didn't like it one bit. bothering with much cooked food miles out, he resembles a corpse Ralph Young tells of some moving at 7% miles an hour ets, cooking equipment - the list bit desolate and bare but Into Carlisle - approaching now just toast and cold stuff. - English people who stopped and the pace for the whole run. goes on for ever. All those tasks fascinating with the nearest donated a £20 note during the halfway already. Another major 0740: Into Lands End, loads of had to be completed preferably Orkney Isles in view. A hardy night. problem. A simple mistake in Thursday June 5 music from the amplifiers that with no expense being incurred. few take a swim which can't have 0915: Aviemore. the ski communication leads to harsh . have brought us in so much As the momentum grew the rest aone a lot. centre, Andy Down going at his words. If the phones had work- Night: Through to Wye Valley, money. John Seavers selects of us were dragged into organis- 1100: Weather is awful so ed it wouldn't have happened. so obviously beautiful but again usual speed despite being up all 'Land of Hope and Glory' and its ing this and that. having done the photos and night. We hung on behind to We all lost each other and after lost in night - no moon this all smiles and handshakes at the The journey north on May 31 presentations we got underway a several circular tours of Carlisle week. Just light enough to see the collect - and did quite well with end. (Ray Powell is still asking was for 21 of us by courtesy of few minutes early. Mass start but all was patched up, and 'A' Severn Bridge as we cross it. donations of bread, milk and why in nearly five days the cook BR and for the rest in the quickly left to Ray Powell and squad off to bed at Lancs Train- 1000: Burnham on Sea -duty petrol. Generous these Scots. only did him one meal! a vehicles; a transit, a camper, a Mike Benning who are the first 1030: Now What! We've all ing Centre, Preston. 'B' squad 'phone calls to the usual places. I - Sierra and the force coach. The official runners. lost each other and the mobile had collected £900 in Edinburgh did it Mike Benning sound question he kept asking never to get an answer). culmination of all that was that 1230: Hit problem number two 'phones don't work this far up, before meeting us. They took asleep. (Diary entries noticeablv during Saturday evening we all - hot tea is necessary but the gas so we travel ahead and wait on their food for the night and we short'erLate am:now): Taunton already - Epilogue met in Wick having bumped into regulator in the camper is uls. the A9 with Geoff Lee asleep on ate in MacDonalds in Preston - The end of the event was each other at Inverness. The Again the local generosity saves the grass verge. It will help him on the house. we should be sleeping here sudden with the usual emotions enormity of the task was driven the day - a local shopkeeper forget his blister. tonight but we are so far ahead of of elation, contentment and then home by the cold uninviting came out on a Sunday and 1200: Drumochter summit. Wednesday June 4 time that won't happen. that flat fee1,ing that is innevit- Caithness Hills and the thick mist donated a new one to smooth ,Glorious day, warm sun but 0900: All ready for the off. Met 'B' squad after their able. A success no doubt about talking Mick Spalding. Ken Fos- and drizzle which dominated the snow on the neaks. The. roarh. - - -. .has-- Kate Snell from BBC Radio is night's sleep at Edgbastone, they that despite diff~cnltiesat times, stopped and there are sand- with us for our collection in look bright which is more than but £3,700 in the Bank from wiches for lunch plus cold dip in Preston - on street interviews we do. The runners have been collections alone is marvellous CHIEF CONSTABLE I the mountain stream. etc. doing short sessions to try and and everyone is thinner but well. I 1445: Pass of Killiekrankie 1200: E500 in Preston. Chris save energy. Sent some fresh Warm thanks to all our sup- quarter di5tance already (215 Woodward banked about &1600. runners on their way and discus- pliers and sponsors for their miles since mid-dav Sundav). 1700: Chris ~afgetshisdtreat- ment on an office desk at Pit- lochry Police Station - Buster using his 'infrasound' kit and some strapping. 1900: Perth already - the other half (B squad) go off to sleep at the Scottish Police Col- lege and it's out turn for an all night stint.