Thank you for your help!

Four days on from the Cycle Ride and we’re all refreshed and rested. It was a great experience and we loved the Challenge so much that by the time we reached the City Ground we wanted to turn round and do it all over again!

All that remains from me though is to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated so far. Your generosity is much appreciated and truly valued by the Danielle Beccan Memorial Trust. We wanted to raise £10,000 for the Trust and are well on our way towards meeting that target, so a big thanks to you for that.

I also want to recognise the tireless contributions of people, who made this event possible.

To my fellow cyclists, John and Alison Taylor and Jill Wilkinson, thanks for joining me on the ride and for all the efforts you put in beforehand in organising.

Thank you to Paul Wilkinson and my daughter Alice for their willing support on the way round – we would have struggled without your help! And a big thanks to Nottingham City Homes for supplying the support van that followed us on our route.

To the support team back home, a big thanks to Nigel Cooke, Tracy Laxton, Keri Usherwood and Joe Bradshaw, for all their help in organising, planning and supporting the Challenge.

Thank you to Jamie O’Malley and Claire Jamieson from Communications who made a great contribution to publicity.

To the Web Team, James Steele, Katie Freeman, David Hyslop and Kathleen Walshe, thanks for enabling us to stay connected and keep people updated throughout the ride. It was a superb tool.

Thanks also to the press for supporting the Challenge and raising awareness – in particular Trent FM, and Mark Hitchings, the BBC and reporter John Hess and Jared Wilson of Leftlion. A big thank you also to Caroline Lowbridge of the Nottingham Evening Post for covering our return to the City Ground, and to Becki Lee and the Black Thunders for escorting us back into Nottingham.

Thank you to all those who helped out with bucket collections and publicising the cycle ride. I would particularly like to thank Alannagh Cooke, Caroline Taylor, Steve and Chloe Speed, Beverly Clark and Ike Ginn for your efforts at the City Ground – you did a sterling job.

Also thanks to Alice Coleman, Simeon Rose, Toby Neal, and Richard Mallender for your help in publicising the event and helping raise more money for the Trust.

Thank you to Threerooms, Ian and Rachel Morris, for producing the stylish posters and leaflets to publicise the Cycle Ride. Thanks also to Tony Bates of Fast Graphics who provided us with loads of stickers and two great banners to help spread the word. I must also credit Clare Warcup for her role in enabling this to happen.

To Evans Cycles, thanks so much to Claire Beaumont, and Matt Johnson for the equipment you donated to the cause. We were very grateful for the high quality kit you let us have.

Thank you to everyone at Nottingham Forest for facilitating our smooth arrival, in particular Ben White who did a cracking job of organising it all, and Mark Arthur for his permission. Thank you to Garry Birtles for all his support and for receiving us on the pitch, along with the Sheriff of Nottingham.

And to Notts County FC, thank you to Tom Loakes for putting us on the website and to Tony Cuthbert for being willing to let us have a bucket collection there! Thank you also to Martin Ingham at the Trent FM Arena for letting us set a stall up and publicise the event.

I should also mention the kindness of Michael Johnson of Notts County and thank him for all the input he offered. Thank you also to Will Hoskins, Tommy Smith and Scott Loach of Watford FC for taking time out on the Friday to meet us and support our cause.

A final couple of thanks – to Nat Puri for all your help, to Andrew Errington for the publicity and help with the arrangements and to Tim Shoveller and Beverley Parkinson at East Midlands Trains for the train tickets you provided.

And last but not least thank you to all at the Danielle Beccan Memorial Trust, thinking particularly of Paula Platt, Shernette Muir, Shona Small and Michael Henry, who have been very supportive and passionate from the beginning. We hope that the money raised will help complete the dance studio project and establish a fitting memory to Danielle.

The Final Day

We started Saturday at 7.30am, mindful of our 3.45 appointment at the City Ground. But we crawled along with the wind against us, worrying we wouldn’t make it on time. And who put all the hills in this road? It was slow going down hill because of the wind, and slow going uphill because they were steep! And I thought Leicestershire was supposed to be flat!

But as we cycled around Oakham we saw our first sign to Nottingham – 29 miles to go. A quick stop in Melton (flapjack, coffee and cake) – 18 miles to go and then more hills before we crossed the A46 – 8 miles to go – and saw Nottingham in the distance. The sun came out, we stripped off our warm cloths and raced on into Nottingham. The end was in sight.

We  finished at half time at the City Ground, welcomed home by Gary Birtles, the Sheriff of Nottingham and warm applause from the crowd – It was great to be home.

So, despite a few aches, pains and mishaps, we made it and so far have raised £7,000 for the Trust. Thanks to everyone who has contributed and to our sponsors for their help. And there’s still time to donate too, either by clicking onto www.justgiving.com/cllrjoncollins or by dropping contributions into the reception at the Council House.

 

A Challenging Day Four.

Today we managed around 70 miles in what was probably the most challenging day so far. We started with a quick trip to Watford Football Club’s training ground at London Colney where we met the two team members from Nottingham – Will Hoskins and Scott Loach. Their support for our Challenge was appreciated as you can seem from my earlier post.

From London Colney we travelled north to St Albans and then Harpenden where we met up with the support team. At least it wasn’t raining but it was cold and I quickly put on more clothes, warmer gloves and overshoes. After the break I jumped on the bike only to discover I had got the first puncture of the tour. Support team swung into action, tyre off, inner tube changed and the bike back in working order while I visited the loo to warm up! Only trouble was that the rest of the team had carried on so I had a bit of a gap to make up.

Cycled through Luton, got lost in the town centre (difficult to belive in Luton but true), found the A6 eventually and charged up it thinking that I must have taken a wrong turn having not managed to catch the rest of the team. Only to meet them just outside Bedford! Impressive progress in a short period of time, particularly when I heard that Alison had fallen off during this leg of the challenge too.

Lunch in Bedford before heading for our final destination, the Travel Lodge at Kettering. But it was a slow-go on major A roads with the wind against us. We finally made it after a “death defying” two mile cycle along the hard shoulder of the A14. Full marks to the HGV drivers that gave us plenty of space. No points to the drivers that throught cutting accross inches ahead of us at the exit ramp was a reasonable way to control a car!

Evening out for dinner followed by an early night and updating the blog. But got to go now because Alice is desperate to get back onto MSN while our latest video is uploaded.

On The Ferry to Newhaven

Having completed the 64 miles to to Dieppe from Beauvais, were now sat on the ferry (The Seven Sisters) for the next 4 hours until we reach Newhaven. Then it will be another 10 miles on the bike before we hit the travel lodge and a well earned rest.

The route today was great. Rolling French countryside, pretty villages, attractive towns and a 20 mile ride on a great cycle route right into the heart of Dieppe. The weather has been kind too. Warm, very little wind and absolutely no rain despite the weather forcast. The team are in good shape. A bit tired and with a few aches and pains but otherwise fit for the remaining three days of the challenge. Having said that, here on the boat, two of the cyclists are snoozing together with one of the support team (Alice, so not too out of the ordinary).

Usual sites and sounds from the French countryside. A couple of chateau’s, cattle, a truck full of pigs, ponds and lakes full of fish, kids playing and small shops open in sleepy villages and hamlets. Something to remember on this Challenge.

Dropping in at Watford FC

Day four and it was an early start. We dropped in to see the Nottingham players currently with Watford FC, Striker Will Hoskins a goalkeeper Scott Loach. Why Watford FC? My parents live in Watford and I’m originally from there. Their support for our challenge was appreciated and we’ll get some memorabilia to auction for the Charity. Thanks to Tommy Smith and Michael Johnson for setting up the photo opportunity the results if which you can see!

Leader ends his marathon bike ride in aid of the Danielle Beccan Memorial Trust at Nottingham Forest FC tomorrow

Councillor Jon Collins along with previous Council Leader John Taylor; Alison Taylor; Jill Wilkinson from education charity Keys to Success and a support team from Nottingham City Homes left Paris on Tuesday 14th April and are due to cross the ‘finishing line’ at half time (3.45pm) in Forest’s home game against Coventry on Saturday 18th April.

 

Former Forest striker Garry Birtles, the Sheriff of Nottingham Councillor Brian Grocock and Michael Henry from the Danielle Beccan Memorial Trust will be there to welcome them.

 

14-year-old Danielle was tragically killed as the innocent bystander of a “drive by” shooting which marked the worst times of Nottingham’s recent history. Thankfully today the incidence of gun crime is much reduced in the City and the twin initiatives of “Nottingham Stands Together” and the Trust have done much to provide a more positive environment for young people.

 

The cyclists have already raised £6,000 towards their £10,000 target in aid of the Trust which itself has raised over £130,000 for a Dance Studio and dance activity, Danielle’s favourite past time. 

 

There will be collection buckets outside the City Ground before Saturday’s match. Donations can also be made at www.justgiving.com/cllrjoncollins

Day Three to Wealstone

Why is it that when you want a McDonalds you can’t find one?  Two days in France with one on every corner and yet when you want coffee and McPorridge there is none to be seen!

So no breakfast and other than a horrible Protein Bar, nothing to eat til evening.

And while we’re at it, what about M&S?  I wanted a flapjack and all they had was a bucket of “bites” - useless for the bike.

As for the Travelodge, generally roppy and only double beds which was an issue. Can of Guiness for £3.05 was a bit steep too.

Route today was 68 miles. First bit easy on decent cycle paths, then defying death on more major roads around Gatwick and the outskirts of central London.

The biggest challenge today was Reigate Hill! Long hard uphill tray tired out the team. As we slogged towards Harrow Weald, cycling through South London, Putney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Wemberly and Harrow it became obvious how hard it was to make decent time in traffic and with so many traffic lights.

We arrived at the hotel (the Gryms’ Dyke – rooms donated by Purico), where we were able to have a good rest, shower or bath and dinner. The perfect preparation for day 4 – which we will start at 8.15 am tomorrow!

Brighton

Having got to Dieppe we had an uneventful trip across the channel. Avoided the blockades and having booked, the queue of people trying to transfer away from Calais.

Having got to Newhaven we were faced with a 10 mile cycle into Brighton. 3 big hills and an over-reliance on the sat nav (didn’t quite work out hills so chose an up and down route that was a bit shorter than the flat route by the sea front) meant it took rather longer than might have been the case. We also lost a front light ( fell off and and smashed) and so after an eventful 90 minutes we were all ready for bed. After a few beers an several packets of crisps of course. Another successful day however and two days of the challenge completed.

Remembering Hillsborough

Observing a minutes silence at 3.06pm in Dieppe in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who died at Hillsborough 20 years ago.

Lunch in Gaillefontaine

So far 32 miles completed and the same again to get to Dieppe although much of this on a cycle path. The food’s basic (omlettes and chips) but welcome as we fuel up for the afternoon.

Our support team (Alice and Paul) have been developing a detailed knowledge of French McDonalds in this part of the world. Odd opening times I’m told and they’ve been disappointed.

This afternoon is the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. John and I were in with the Forest supporters and will never forget the tragedy. We’ll be stopping for our own minutes silence at 3.06pm (UK time) somewhere on a French cycle path.