Three men in a boat hit the river for charity (From Swindon Advertiser)

Three men in a boat hit the river for charity

10:03am Monday 21st April 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

THREE men in a boat are rowing from Cricklade to London for charity - minus the dog.

Brian Walters, 77, Barry Snooks, 48, and his son-in-law Mark Cox, 31, set off at 10.30am on Friday aiming to row the 135 miles to Teddington Lock by next weekend.

The friends, who will be camping on the banks of the Thames and cooking their own food, are hoping to raise about £1,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support and the First Devizes Guides.

The Devizes trio, none of whom has rowed before, will be in an 18ft boat that Barry bought for £100.

Barry said: "We have been out a couple of times in the boat, but I wouldn't say we were professionals.

"I have done sailing before, but it is nice to do something different.

"I built a rowing machine to practise on, and we've been training for about five months now.

"We'll need it. We have to go through 42 locks before we reach Teddington, and we'll be camping out at night.

"I suppose we might slum it in a few pubs in the evenings, though."

• Print
• Email
• Share