Tom Murrell and his Family Beat the Floods on a Bike Ride for Harry

On the 22nd July we set off from Bisham at 7.30 for Oxford to start the bike ride. Reg driving, Annie and Toby, Tom and I (Julie; Tom’s mum), Grandma and Grandad and Holly the dog, all wearing our www.harrymills.co.uk t shirts (including Holly) and with posters over the Landover. Our aim was to set off from Osney Bridge in Oxford. We had maps with where we had arranged designated stops for breakfast, lunch, tea and just to wave to Grandma and Grandad and hand out our flyers at bridges, locks and towns along the Thames path back into Marlow, a distance of 50+ miles.

We were expecting the ground to be very wet, due to the heavy rain and flash flooding on Friday. In Oxford we found that the road to Osney Bridge was closed and only local residents allowed through to collect there belongings, so we headed to Donnington Bridge in Oxford and started there, past Iffey Lock onto Sandford Lock. There were puddles along the way but nothing that we couldn't handle. At Sandford we were told that the path was impassable at that point but there was a cycle way that would take us into Abingdon via Radley. The track first went through a foot of water but there was a small walk way so we were able to keep our feet dry, then nice small lanes until a field that was six inches under water. Holly being a bit of a princess refused to wade through so Tom carried her then went back for his bike. Feet are no longer dry. The track eventually took us onto a main road, but that was ok, we were headed for Abingdon and bacon rolls for breakfast. There was a torrent of water passing through the weir at Abingdon Lock, but we got to the town and enjoyed the bacon butties.

The path looked clear at Abingdon so we decided to give it a go. There were lots of people attending their boats, ensuring that they didn't float onto the bank and very soon we were knee deep in water, so we turned back and decided to go by road to Culham. Our next scheduled stop was Clifton Hampden, then onto Dorchester, Shillingford, Benson and Wallingford. By now we had renamed all of the towns ...................On Thames to .................In Thames. When we turned back in Abingdon we also learned that they were expecting a two foot surge to come down the Thames by lunch time.

In Wallingford we had another look at the river, the patio of the pub was underwater so we turned back and continued by road, a very long and busy road with lots of hills into Streatley where we stopped at the Bull for a very good Sunday lunch and very friendly people. From there we decided to cross the river and follow either a bridle path to Cold Harbour or if we could pick up the Thames path which we knew was high at that point down to Whitchurch on (in) Thames. This is where we (I) made a big mistake, following a sign that said walkers horses and bikes which petered out to nothing up hills and down dales and into a field with no exit, so we had to turn back and now cut by brambles and stung by nettles we set off up the bridle path to Cold Harbour, where we met some people who directed us by road to Mapledurham. On this leg of the journey we did make up some time and from Mapledurham we touched Reading, and into Caversham Heights. We were no longer following the designated route at all but we were still roughly following the route of the Thames. It was gone 6 o'clock and 40 miles in. From Caversham we just carried on by road into Henley, up and down some horrendous hills, along a very busy road where the car drivers were all in a huge hurry to get somewhere. It was in Henley that I was cut up badly by a car and nearly lost the plot altogether. By now it was just Tom and I. Holly had done the country bits, but running along a busy road is no fun, Reg had taken Grandma, Annie, Toby and Holly back to Bisham and met us again with Grandad in Henley. Tom was not going to give up. We looked at the path again in Henley, not a chance so we continued by road and hills, to Aston, up the Hill to the Henley road, down some fantastic hills, where we reached 25 miles an hour, along Shepherds Lane into Hurley. Tom had been ill coming up the Hill from Sonning to Henley but now had a second wind because he could smell home, so now thankfully back onto flat paths we rode into Temple, Bisham and along the road reaching Marlow Bridge at 9 o'clock (ish) and 56 miles later.

Henry Wallace pupil at John Hampden raises £50 for Harry

Henry Wallace knocked on his neighbours doors to raise funds for Harry. A lovely thing to do in memory of Harry and thanks to him and his neighbours.

Abbey ran for Harry in the Hyde Park BUPA Great Capital Run.

A great friend of Jenny, (Harry’s 19 year old sister), Abbey ran in the 10 Km Race for held on 15th July in Hyde Park.   Well done to Abbey who completed the run in 1 hour 40 minutes and raised £1240 in memory of Harry.

Art at the Royal Oak - A Great Success

Jane Cowan & Julie Wetenhall are ex-Spinfield parents and family friends. Their Art Exhibition at the Royal Oak, Bovingdon Green, Marlow on Sunday the 15th July was a great success despite the rain. The exhibition moved into the pub and thanks go to the many friends who visited the exhibition. A total of £350 was raised.

Team Harry - Four Peaks Challenge raises £1,500 for Harry's fund

“Team Harry” kicked off with the Four Peaks Challenge on Friday the 13th July. Well done to Nigel Banks, Stuart Butler, Colm Farrell and David Postlethwaite who completed the four peaks in 38 hours despite driving rain. They left a stone on each peak in memory of Harry.

The Team write: 

We set off from Marlow at 1.45am on Friday 13th July, arriving at a wet and cold Pen y Cae car park and ready to start our first climb, Mount Snowdon, at 5.25am.

1 hour 50mins later and we were at the top of the 3,560ft Welsh peak, wet but with a quick climb under our belt and an even quicker descent. By 8.55 we were back at the car and ready for a welcome hot coffee and bacon sandwich before heading to Holyhead to catch the fast cat ferry to Dublin! 

Arriving on time in Belfast we headed north for the border and were in good spirits with some time to spare…until we hit the town of Newry in Northen Ireland! Traffic had got the better of us and by the time we reached the rainy, windswept Newcastle car park we were behind time and needed a quick climb on a mountain none of us knew!

The climb was gentle to start with as we made our way through woodland following the river into an open bowl surrounded by a seemingly never ending climb. We were an hour into the climb and the weather had deteriorated, we needed to step up the pace if we were to stand any chance of completing the climb and reaching Belfast in time to catch the Stranraer ferry.

This was a low point for the team as we really began to understand the extent of the challenge we had taken on. Poss took the brave decision to let Stuart, Colm and myself go on without him, if we could conquer the 3,414ft Irish Peak and get back down in 2 hours we were still in with a chance. We dug deep and 40 minutes later hit the summit! Just time to place our stones on the cairn and then back down in what must a record 1 hour and 5 minutes – we had done it, the challenge was still on!

The ferry to Stranraer gave us some rest and a welcome hot meal but heading off at 01.30 the next morning after our second night with very little sleep was tough, the 220 mile drive to Ben Nevis even tougher, especially with stray Deer almost ruining our chances before we even reached the Scottish mountain. Putting on wet walking gear is not much fun but at 05.25am in a cold and wet Scottish car park it’s not funny!

Setting off to scale the 4,406 ft of Ben Nevis we all started to feel the effects of little sleep and whatever food we could eat ‘on the go’. We were tired and still being rained on but were desperate to keep on track for the challenge. I have to admit that I certainly struggled on Nevis, physically I was still OK (and surprisingly blister free) but mentally was struggling to keep going. I have never completed a long distance run or marathon but I can only describe my own feelings as being close to the ‘hitting the wall’ effect that people refer to. It was time to dig deep and rely on the team to keep me pushing on for the summit.

The weather was really closing in with the temperature dropping, the wind speed increasing, visibility reducing and of course the continued rain, we were even now having to traverse snow patches!

Thankfully, after a surprisingly good 2 hour 40 minute climb, we hit the top! Huge relief all round and just enough time to place our stones on the cairn, take a quick photo and video before heading back down, in only 2 hours 5 mins, to the best McDonalds breakfast I’ve ever tasted!

By 10.30 we were on the road again heading South for the Lake District and our last peak, the imposing Scafell Pike (3,206ft). Traffic kept our time slow so once we arrived at the Wasdale car park it was straight on with our backpacks and we were off again, Poss this time leading the way and providing a great ‘hare’ for us to chase! If we could complete the climb in less than 5 hours we would beat our 40 hour target. We were feeling confident!

And at last, a dry climb…or so we thought! The cloud was low but at least the rain kept off however, the river was running so fast and deep that in order to cross we had no choice but to wade through the swollen waters and soak our feet and boots!

We were not to be put off though and despite wet feet, sore knees, aching legs and various other ailments, we hit the top in a staggering 1 hour and 40 mins!

Just time for a celebratory beer and to place our last ‘stone for Harry’ before our final descent and, at last, a view to take your breath away…

We had managed the final climb in a total of 3 hours, so at 19.25 on Saturday night, in Wasdale car park we completed our challenge.

In just 38 hours we had driven 864 miles, crossed the Irish Sea twice and climbed to a combined total height of over 14,500 feet, and back down again, in just 14 hours!

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that has supported us in this challenge through their kind words and generous donations. And in particular to Richard, Judy, Marie, Jenny and George Mills who spurred us on with their amazing enthusiasm for what, at times, looked to be an almost impossible challenge.

Nigel Banks, Stuart Butler, Colm Farrell and David (Poss) Postlethwaite.

Farriers Event Raises £7,500 for Harry

Lucy and Billy of Handmade Shoes Ltd organise and run the annual Farriers shoemaking competition. They had over 80 farriers competing in 3 divisions. They kindly held an auction for Harry and The Meningitis Research Foundation at the evening Dinner and Dance where £7,500 was raised.

The Harry Mills Fair Play Trophy

The Harry Mills Fair Play Trophy was awarded to David Broughton for his outstanding sportsmanship at the Spinfield Sports Day on Monday 9th July. Well done David.

Mufti day at John Hampden School raises £1,843.

Pupils and Staff at Harry’s school, John Hampden Grammar, raised £1,843 for the pleasure of wearing jeans at school. Each participant donated £2 on the day. Donations will go to the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Friendship Bench and Trophy for Harry at Spinfield

Spinfield School (Harry’s Primary) presented a Friendship Bench to the Mills family with a plaque “Remembering our Friend Harry Mills”. The bench has been suitably positioned on the School fields overlooking the Football pitch and cricket field.