My Activity Tracking
24
mi
My target 24 mi
I'm fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, in memory of my father, Trevor Saunders.
Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer. More than half of people die within three months of diagnosis.
My father died from pancreatic cancer in 2006 just two weeks after diagnosis, which to us was unexpected and left us completely unprepared.
My challenge is to walk 24 miles over the course of November. The significance of 24 is that this is the number of people who die in the UK from pancreatic cancer every day.
Funds raised will contribute to further research to enable earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments to ultimately save lives. Giving 'more than hope' ....
Funding will also go toward specialist nurses to give vital care and much needed support to patients and families affected.
If you're able, please donate 💜
My donations could fund...
50
hours with a nurse on our support line
24
hours of early diagnosis research
My Achievements
I've increased my fundraising target
I've made a donation
I've added a profile picture
I've shared my page
I've reached 50% of my target
I've reached my fundraising goal
My Updates
The Wonder of Santa.
Christmas was always a great time of year for Trevor, he would choose the biggest tree and the brightest lights. As a sociable man he enjoyed the parties, indulgent foods, fancy drinks and a bottle of port 'breathing' in a ships decanter in preparation for the evening.
On Christmas day we used to have a snowman, made by my mum from cardboard and cotton wool, in the centre of the table. Inside were little gifts on a the end of a piece of string labelled with our names for an after dinner surprise. Because it was made by my mum, for her gift she would just put a Quality Street sweet from the (much bigger than now days) tin. I remember one year, my dad secretly exchanged the sweet for a diamond and ruby eternity ring, he had very good taste in jewellery and she had the best snowman gift that year.
Having three grandchildren, Trevor was in his element with the responsibility of being Santa. I think they're old enough now that I am not ruining the belief for them! My mum made the outfit and it was very convincing, he used to 'conveniently' need a nap when Santa was soon to visit, then Santa was wandering around outside, the children would jump with excitement when they saw him through the window. My niece says that she used to feel very annoyed that none of us would let her go and wake up her Grandad on such a momentous occasion.
But still, he never forgot his job, I remember going around all the local police stations with him on Christmas day before dinner to take gifts and wish everyone on shift a Merry Christmas.
Love to you all, Julie.
xxx
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Day 29 ✅ 23.5/24 miles completed
Half a mile to go to reach my challenge target, I'll complete tomorrow, slow and steady has served me well.
Having such a stressful job and busy life meant that relaxation and taking things slowly at times was very important to Trevor.
My parents both loved canal boats and bought a share in a boat called Serenity, aptly named. She was moored in Warwickshire on the Grand Union Canal and they had some wonderfully sedate trips along the canals taking the scenery and wildlife, through swing bridges and locks with plenty of country pub stops. Things did not always go without a hitch, they were hitch not, canals are not the cleanest of waterways and on one trip a rubber tyre got wrapped around the rudder making it impossible to steer the boat. Trevor 'volunteered' my mum to get into the canal and sort it out, which she duly did. I think he may have been scared of possible surprise creatures in the canal.
My parents had planned to buy a canal boat when my mum retired, sadly Trevor died before this happened but my mum went ahead with the plan alone and enjoyed her boat named Artist's Touch, again aptly named and so clearly meant to be, for many years. I spent a lot of time on this boat, moored on the Kennet and Avon canal in Wiltshire. The smell of the hops from the Wadworth brewery located near to Devizes wharf is an unforgettable memory of mooring there, the brewery still use Shire horses and drays to deliver their ale to the pubs of Devizes. You can visit the brewery and meet the horses, Wadworth have used the same line of Shire horses for over 125 years. Along the canal, the Caen Hill Locks, a flight of 29 locks which took 5-6 hours and a lot of hard work to get through were an experience, but it was far more relaxing to go the other way.
It was sad that Trevor was no longer around to pursue their dream together but he would have loved that my mum had the spirit to go it alone and make the very most of the years that she had the boat. She became expert at steering and mooring it, made friends along the canal and for quite a long time she as good as lived on the boat.
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Day 28 ✅ 22.9/24 miles completed
He also loved fishing and often went on sea fishing trips with friends, we used this time to introduce new pets into the house, because how could he say no once they had settled in and we loved them. One being a cat called Whiskey (that name should appeal to him ha ha), thankfully he was less allergic to Whiskey than expected, and once a German Shepherd Puppy, he really did love her, what a nice surprise from us.
He tried a few hobbies that didn't stick such as golf and guitar playing.
In the village where we lived in Surrey there was a woodturner's shop, Trevor always wanted to turn his hand (excuse the pun) to woodturning and after retirement and move to the country, he had the time and space to give it a go. The house in Herefordshire had an old stable and coachhouse, he converted the stable into a woodturning workshop with, it seemed, like every machine available. He did love a machine. He kept his wood in the loft above. This was a serious endeavour, he named himself the Westhope Turner and taught himself to use all the machinery, learning from books, he also learned about and used many different types of wood, all with different properties, hardness and patterns when turned. My favourite was Zebrano, it had a lovely stripey pattern, I still have and use the large Zebrano fruit bowl he turned, then spent hours fine sanding and polishing for the perfect finish. He was determined and meticulous, advanced techniques such as inlays were perfected quickly.
Chatting to my niece Ellen recently about this blog, she said that one of her stand out memories of her grandad was sitting, watching him woodturning for hours, not being able to chat much due to the noise of the lathe but she liked being with him so she'd just sit there, on the stairs going up to the loft taking in the different smells of all the woods, varnishes and polishes.
He made some amazing things including bowls, plant stands, lamp bases, pens, spinning tops and decorative mushrooms.
My mum Lesley is also very talented, creating art with paints and pastels, she is currently taking a course in watercolour painting.
My parents held a joint exhibition of woodturning and paintings in the exhibition room at the Tollhouse on Clevedon Pier. This was an exciting time and made me feel very proud.
Day 27 ✅ 22/24 miles completed
Perhaps quite a brave move with his Welsh heritage, considering the ancient law that it is legal to kill a Welshman in Hereford, but only with a longbow from exactly 12 yards, on a Sunday in Cathedral Close.
I'm sure he considered it very carefully, as he did with everything in life, and decided that on a benefit vs risk basis it was the right move.
The area was idyllic and so quiet compared to the South East, the new house was surrounded by Bulmers cider apple orchards, which inspired one of his retirement hobbies, cider making. There were cider apple trees and Perry pear trees in the garden. Trevor was a chatty man and he befriended the manager of the Bulmers orchard. He learned all about cider making, he never did anything by halves, if he was going to do it he'd do it properly. There were beehives throughout the orchards to pollinate, and because cider apple trees are not great for pollination there were James Grieve eating apple trees planted amongst them, the orchard manager said we were welcome to help ourselves to these, this sort of took the fun out of scrumping ha ha.
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As soon as all of the equipment was in place, including this wonderful cider press, it was not long before we were provided with an endless supply of excellent quality home made cider and perry.
Happy days 😃
Day 26 ✅ 21.45/24 miles completed
He had difficulty buying clothes and shoes to fit and I remember that he mostly shopped at High and Mighty, a clothing and shoe shop specifically for tall men.
Being tall also had a bearing on what car he drove as many were uncomfortable for him. For a long time we had a blue Ford Granada estate, it was big, he could drive it comfortably and it fitted all five of us, I use to lie across my brothers laps in the back seat with a blanket and have a sleep (the days before seat belts), plus camping gear plus a big singing German Shepherd dog. The car was quite battered in the end.
One day some chaps knocked on the door offering to tarmac our driveway, my mum said no thank you, they then asked if she wanted to sell the Granada to them. That was a yes, so they took it away. A few weeks later my mum came home to the police on the doorstep saying that they needed to ask some questions! Apparently the car had not been re registered to the new owners and had been used as a getaway car in an armed robbery. I think that the police were quite satisfied that my parents were not armed robbers.
It would seem that the driveway tarmacking chaps were rather unsavoury characters.
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Day 25 ✅ 21/24 miles completed
His job came with a lot of responsibility and it was not uncommon for him to be called to work at short notice at any hour of the day.
There was one time when my mum noticed that the teachers at my brother's school were looking at her in an odd, sympathetic manner and being overly nice, then one of them said "I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles", with an element of surprise, my mum asked "What troubles?" and the teacher said "Oh, David has told us that your husband has left home". This was not completely untrue, however, thankfully he had not left us. It was 1984 and he had been called to go, with immediate effect, to Cortonwood Colliery in South Yorkshire to assist with the miners' strikes, this was where the strikes began. Trevor had left a note on the kitchen table saying that he had gone and my brother David was first to see it. He was gone for 3 weeks.
He was given this Eccles miners lamp as a gift of appreciation for the service and assistance provided by Surrey police at such a difficult time for all involved.
This lamp is a protector lamp used by deputies (senior miners) to detect methane, lack of oxygen and presence of carbon dioxide, the flame changes in colour and height depending on the type and levels of different gases, it has a mechanism for safe re-lighting so that it could be relit underground. It was a lamp for safety, not for light as the flame had to be kept low to detect the gases. Miners were given tags, which they exchanged in the lamp room, for their lamp with the same number, the tag was put on a hook with all the other miners' tags from that shift, at the end of their shift they'd return the lamp and collect their tag, if a tag remained it meant that the miner was missing and so they knew to search.
This lamp is now in my lounge awaiting a polish with Brasso, remember the smell?
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Day 24 ✅ 20.4/24 miles completed
Trevor had a love of country music, I also love country music and it seems that there is a link between the type of music you like and your personality, country music was found to be most popular amongst extroverted, observant, feeling types (sparklystarburst.wordpress.com).
My brothers and I grew up listening to Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, John Denver, Hank Williams, Jim Reeves and the list goes on!
His favourite was Charlie Pride singing Crystal Chandeliers, it was best played late at night at full volume. I still listen to this song regularly, it reminds me of my dad and I get why he loved it.
https://youtu.be/shmyrS9RgEM?feature=shared
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Day 23 ✅ 20/24 miles completed
He had a BMW R80RT which was a fantastic bike but there was not much protection for my mum falling asleep on the back. He really loved the R100RT and I remember a picture of this in our kitchen for quite a while. His friend and colleague Ken Langridge had a Honda Goldwing, a huge bike with practically an armchair on the back. One day we came home to one of these in the the driveway (an Aspencade with a lot of fancy lights), dad joked that it was Ken's new bike but then we realised it was his new bike.
Trevor was a tall man and his dream tourer was a Honda Pan European but the fixed fairing was uncomfortable because he was so tall.
My parents toured Europe on the Goldwing with Ken and his wife Judy on theirs. The backrest and arms on the bike meant it was safe for my mum to fall asleep and It had a useful stereo system with loud speakers and a cigarette lighter (those were the days!). They also went to Wingding rallies, quite spectacular and attracted a lot of attention
My dad and Ken really enjoyed their bikes and Trevor's had a talking alarm system which allowed them to speak through it, dad and Ken would hide behind a bush, and when someone was looking at the bike they would talk to them through the speakers for fun.
If the bike was parked and someone came near, the alarm would say "please move away", if the person didn't, it would say "please move away or the alarm will sound" if they still didn't it would say "attention, attention, this bike is being stolen".
This is poignant because after Trevor passed away, my mum sold the Goldwing, as soon as the buyer moved it the alarm went off saying it was being stolen, no one could work out how to disable it so the buyer had to drive away with the bike in his van shouting that it was being stolen.
I'm sure they sorted it when they got home. I'm happy in the knowledge that they got a beautifully cared for bike.
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Day 22 ✅ 19/24 miles completed
Trevor and I shared a love of bikes, as a child I remember putting on his police uniform gauntlets, open face helmet and goggles. My main aim at the age of 16 was to get a job and buy a bike. My dad would really have preferred for me to stay on at school and do some A-levels, I didn't want to disappoint him so I tried. I was told I was not clever enough to do the subjects I was interested in (science), so the school chose for me, business studies, sociology and drama! (goodness knows why they thought I'd be good at drama?). Anyway, I did try but I was so bored so after 3 weeks I left, got a job and bought my first bike. My mum did not really approve, but dad did not object so bike it was and I had a good instruction from him as a police rider, this stood me in good stead for my advanced riding certificate later in life. My mum graciously embraced his interest, went to rallies and toured Europe with Trevor and their friends, she is well known for being so interested she'd often fall asleep on the back.
He would go away with the Surrey police riders regularly for 'stress breaks' in France, I remember him getting very excited in preparation for these trips and enjoyed listening to his stories when he got back, they were speedy riders.
When I was 19 I wanted a 'bigger' bike, I chose a lovely Honda 400/4, he collected it for me and at 6'5" tall it looked like he was riding a childs' bike, all hunched up with his knees sticking out. It made me laugh, the bike was the perfect size for me.
This picture is of a young me at a BMF rally with my dad, I managed to persuade him to buy that leather jacket for me after he'd had a few ciders. I wore it for years and still have it to this day. It's often borrowed by friends who want to go to fancy dress parties as Danny Zuko from Grease.
We were also members of Leominster Classic Motorcycle Club and both on the committee at one stage, we enjoyed lots of rideouts, parties and BBQ's with friends from the club.
It was wonderful to have this shared interest and make such good memories 🏍️
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Day 21 ✅ 18.2/24 miles completed
My why !
Today is World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness day, I am undertaking this challenge to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer during the month of November and to raise money for continuing research into early diagnosis, more effective treatments and support for people and families suffering from a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
You may not know someone personally who has been affected by this disease. The deadliest common cancer, with 10500 people diagnosed every year in the UK , 80% diagnosed at a late stage, half of whom die within 3 months (Pancreatic Cancer UK). But it is likely that you will all know of a celebrity who has died from or is suffering with pancreatic cancer including but not limited to:
Aretha Franklin
Joan Crawford
Steve Jobs
John Hurt
Jamie Doran
Patrick Swayze
Alan Rickman
Michael Landon
Luciano Pavarotti
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Sven-Goran Eriksson
Syd Barrett
Dizzy Gillespie
Eric Idle - surviving with thanks to early diagnosis.
Trevor Saunders (a celebrity in my eyes 💜)
All donations to this cause are greatly appreciated and will be sure to make a much needed difference, hopefully in the near future.
Day 20 ✅ 17.2/24 miles completed
Everyone has their vices and one of Trevors was smoking, I did consider that this may not be an appropriate post for a cancer research fundraiser, but it was a part of him so here we are. He was a Marlborough Red man, he also loved smoking a pipe but this was a rare occurrence because we all hated the smell, the same with cigars but he did have the odd celebratory big one.
It seems weird for me now to describe it as celebratory and this demonstrates the changes in society over the years. In those days smoking was accepted (by most) everywhere, in homes and offices, the cinema (on the left), the aeroplane (as long as you went and stood in the isle up the back!), restaurants and cafes etc. etc. etc.
I remember how awful the pubs and clubs smelled just after the smoking ban in 2007, it turned out that the smell of cigarette smoke covered a multitude of other smells!
Trevor battled with the smoking addiction as most smokers do and he managed to stop a few times over the years.
This is a picture of me aged 2yrs with my packet of cigarette sweets, although I was not quite this young when I started to smoke, my older brothers used to take me to the park to play on the swings, more for them, as an excuse to go out and smoke. Cleverly, they made me smoke as well so that I couldn't tell on them because I had done it too.
I graduated to 'proper' smoking around the age of 14-15, I was soooo cool smoking on the way to school "Ten Silk Cut and a box of matches please, yes I am 16".
I would come home having eaten a whole packet of polo's and my mum would ask if I'd been smoking, of course I said "no, it's just everyone around me was", in hindsight I realise that she was not stupid.
Marlborough Red's were far too strong for me so Benson and Hedges were my cigarette of choice during my later teens and twenties, obviously heavily influenced but the shiny gold packet. As we got older, some of my friends tried to be more healthy and smoke Silk Cut ultra light, these had tiny holes around the butt I suppose to limit the inhalation of the toxic chemicals, it was like sucking on air. I used to pre cut up a load of little stickers before any social event to wrap around the butt and cover the holes because on rounds of cigarettes, a B&H for a Silk Cut ultra light was not a fair trade.
Thankfully I no longer smoke, as with any pattern of addiction I have had a couple of relapses over the years but am very happy to be free of it now.
I highly recommend Allen Carr's book Easy Way to Stop Smoking, the original version (the later ones are too thick!). Last time the audiobook was very successful because the voice was so monotonous and grating to listen to on the way to and from work that I stopped just so that I could put my music on again 😂
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Day 19 ✅ 16.4/24 miles completed
Trevor loved his motorbikes and I clearly inherited the biker gene. This is a picture of me aged 16 on my first bike, a Kawasaki AR50 and I absolutely loved it.
Hanging out in town with my friends one day, Paula Cottham (sadly not longer with us), wanted a go on the back, I said "yeah sure but if we see the police you'll have to jump off", as we rode around the corner there he was, the local PC called Elvis, I slowed down and Paula jumped off right in front of him, not my brightest moment ha ha. I rode off, parked up and went to hang around with the others. I blended in pretty well as my motorcycle gear in those days comprised a Campri ski jacket and Reebok Hi tops. Elvis dragged Paula around the town, by her ear I think and saw my bike, when he asked her if that was the bike she was on she consistently said no, but I don't think he believed her!
I left it a couple of hours before riding home, as I approached my house there was a jam sandwich (police car) across the top of our drive, I thought OH NO I'm in trouble, so I carried on to my friend Susan's house for a few hours. When I eventually went home, my dad, who was the police superintendent at that time, said nothing. I tentatively enquired about the police car that was there earlier and he said "oh, it was just someone from work visiting". I am fairly sure this was not the case but hurrah, his little princess was off the hook.
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Day 18 ✅ 15.7/24 miles completed
The challenge goes on. Today it persisted down with rain all day, I was waiting and waiting for it to stop but it didn't.
I have a pain in my side, I think maybe I pulled a muscle putting on the socks.
I went for my walk at dusk in the rain with my hood up (looking like Kenny from South Park) and my trackies tucked into my socks to keep dry because I'm still on slip on trainers using a shoe horn, I can not yet do the laces on my walking boots.
I would have done zero steps today had I not taken on this challenge and been so lucky to have all of your kind support and messages.
This evening this bottle of 'encouragement' wine was anonymously left on my doorstep, I am very thankful ☺️
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Day 17 ✅ 14.8/24 miles completed
Young Trevor rode a Triumph Saint during his time as a traffic policeman based in Dorking, Surrey. He was quite a strict policeman but still always open to a bit of fun.
When my mum was learning to drive, her instructor would say "check your rear view mirror, the police are following", he could not understand why until my mum said "it's ok, that's my boyfriend, he thinks it's funny!". Apparently he only did it three times 🤣.
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Day 16 ✅ 13.94/24 miles completed
Football vs rugby:
Today I have been watching the WSL games, it is so good to be able to watch womens football on TV, a cracking goal from Russo after 63 seconds in the North London derby resulting in a 3-0 win to Arsenal at Tottenham. Then, a strong goal from Chelsea's Ramirez leading to a 2-0 win against Man City, and Chelsea are now top of the league table having won 7 out of 7 games played so far. Will Arsenal be able to catch them? I think so, it's going to be an interesting season. This is where I differ from my dad. He was a passionate rugby fan, having an English mother and a Welsh father the Welsh prevailed when it came to rugby. He was very proud of his Welsh roots and I remember him being so excited planning trips with his cousin Ivor Rees, meeting at Tylorstown Working Men's Club in the Rhondda Valley to catch the coach, with quite a few crates of beer, and a lot of loud singing, to watch the game at Cardiff Arms Park. Phrases like 'Iechyd da (yak-ee-daa)' and 'the boys done good' spring to mind.
He would come home with stories of how rugby is a gentleman's game and the fans respect each other, making a point of difference between rugby and football as this was at the tail end of the terrible football riots, which have thankfully had their day.
I knew his cousin Ivor as Uncle Ivor (and his wife Auntie Alma) from the valleys. They were always the first to send me a Christmas card, a thing I really miss as they are both no longer with us. Whenever I visited Ivor had the most interesting stories from the valleys, including a very descriptive rape and murder story!. Alma would conjure up a full buffet including corned beef pie and welsh cakes within minutes of our arrival.
My uncle Ivor worked for a brewery and said it was a great job, he had a pint at every pub they delivered to. He also took a photograph of Tom Jones outside one of the pubs and made it into this beermat which I cherish to this day.
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Day 15 ✅ 13/24 miles completed
I do still enjoy making a snowman and have also been known to make a very lifelike snowdog.
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Days 11, 12, 13 and 14 ✅✅✅✅ 12/24 miles completed
My dad was a keen fundraiser and I remember both of my parents spending hours helping to spread the word for Elefriends, part of the Born Free Foundation to campaign for animal welfare and conservation. There was no internet in those days so stuffing envelopes was the way to go, it was repetitive and time consuming, but certainly worthwhile, I helped with this and remember the boxes of letters and envelopes filling the room. The Born Free Foundation is still going and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
It was started by actress Virginia McKenna and her husband Bill Travers after they starred in the film Born Free, set in Kenya, the charity was co-founded by their son Will Travers OBE, who continues the campaign to this day. My parents were lucky enough to meet them on numerous occasions.
I remember this print 'The Ivory is Theirs' in our home, the painting was by the wildlife artist and conservationist David Shepherd CBE, it is also the 40th anniversary of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation this year and this print is still selling to raise money toward the conservation of elephants.
My parents visited Kenya on a trip of a lifetime safari after Trevor retired.
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Day 10 ✅ 8.8/24 miles completed
It made me think of shopping with my dad, which was quite a thing. Plenty of time was always allowed so that every label of every product could be thoroughly read prior to purchase. This is not a criticism and obviously totally normal as I do this too, although less so now because I often forget my glasses. At least I have the luxury of iPhone magnifier in the case of emergency, I think he'd have loved that.
His most favourite shop was called Do it All, it was a DIY shop and I remember spending hours and hours at weekends looking at 'fixings' etc. However, the most time spent shopping for a home improvement was when my parents decided to get new curtains, I think we walked around Allders of Croydon curtain department for at least five whole days. I'd like to say that the chosen curtains were lovely but I was so traumatised by the choosing process that I cannot actually remember what they were like, probably orange and brown in keeping with fashion at that time.
Photograph from internet, what a lovely logo.
Day 9 ✅ 8/24 miles completed
He made all of our bed bases, a bunk bed for my dollys (my mum sewed the bedding), a two floor garage premises for our toy cars and a pair of adjustable stilts, I became quite the expert at stilt walking.
There was a variety of pet housing over the years starting with an emergency rabbit hutch for a little white bunny (I named Bashful, because he was a dwarf rabbit) that I brought home unexpectedly from the local Donkey Derby.
He also made the sledge in this photo (me on the right), which my mum used to use to pull us to school during the heavy winters. It had metal runners that we would wax for maximum effect on downhill speed sledging. The most impressive fact is that this sledge lives on, around 45 years later it is still being used by my great niece and nephews, as sturdy as the day it was built.
Day 8 ✅ 6.8/24 miles completed
The walks are physically demanding for me and I'm certainly having up and down days, but averaging 0.95 miles a day I am on track with the challenge.
I am enjoying writing stories and memories of my dad who sadly passed from Pancreatic cancer in 2006 and appreciate all the likes and comments.
Thank you all 🥰
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Day 7 ✅ 6.3/24 miles completed
I cannot be certain that this was the authentic outfit brought back from Texas, he really liked to be a cowboy. I also love a cowboy (girl) hat so perhaps this is an inherited trait.
Thankfully, pointing a gun at my mum's head was a one off for dressing up authenticity.
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Day 6 ✅ 5.7/24 miles completed
They visited many places including the Grand Canyon and Texas. He came home with the full cowboy outfit including rhinestone shirt, bootlace necklace, cowboy boots and Stetson hat.
Whilst driving on the highway in their hire car he spotted the police behind, the story goes that he intentionally sped up so that he would be stopped for speeding and could meet and have a chat with the American policemen. I believe this to be true .....
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Day 5 ✅ 4.7/24 miles completed
One of the things that I miss the most about my dad is his frequent and good advice. In my mind I could hear him saying "Can I make a suggestion?" and it would have been, you're doing really well, take it easy for a couple of days and you'll still be on track.
I did a little, slow walk of 0.3 miles, then rested for the day and watched a really good film (I.M.O.) called Upgraded.
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Day 4 ✅ 4.4/24 miles completed
Today's memory is Trevor and wine. It was lovely to hear, on the back of yesterday's curry blog, from people who also remember those evenings. The curries were always accompanied by a nice bottle (or more) of wine, often a Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Trevor was a member of Laithwaites wine club, I remember the frequent deliveries and excitement of trying new wines. We also used to go on day trips from Dover to Calais on the ferry (the days before the Eurostar), with his police colleagues and their families for lunch, my mum recalls a lovely fruits de mer. Of course the main purpose of the trip was to bring back a few cases of wine in the car.
His other favourite wines included El Bombero, a spanish grenache with an alcohol content of 15%, which knowing Trevor, is probably what lent itself to being a favourite, and red wine from the Mercury region of Burgundy, France. Mercury wines are said to age well, improving in taste and aroma when stored correctly. I hope this is true as my mum still has a bottle of dad's Mercurey with a label on the back saying "Dad's wine for my 80th, or whatever comes first".
I'm hoping for the 80th !!
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Day 3 ✅ total 3.3/24
This sparks today's memories. Trevor was a very sociable man and an excellent cook, curry being his speciality. My parents often had friends around for dinner parties and I remember my dad spending the whole day in the kitchen making multiple curries from scratch, measuring and grinding spices and making pastes, some even made the day before to allow time for overnight marination. He always used to say that the secret to a good curry is to have the perfect blend of spices. He also put the same amount of love and care into cooking the perfect basmati rice, light and fluffy, never clumped or wet.
I still have, and use, his favourite Madhur Jaffrey cookbook including notes and calculations to adjust the recipes depending on the number of guests to be catered for. There is also a menu so that he did not forget to make any of the chosen dishes, lamb in a creamy almond sauce was his absolute favourite, I have also made this many times over the years, along with the carrot salad that give the house a wonderful smell of popped black mustard seeds just before the guests arrive.
I remember these evenings being full of fun, laughs, stories, music and games. My parents' friends were certainly entertaining.
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Day 2 ✅ 1.3 miles
For this reason, and that I have taken on this challenge in memory of my dad, I will share photographs, memories and little stories about him instead.
An introduction: Trevor Saunders, my dad, with me at my christening in 1973, he was 31 years old at the time and working as a police sergeant in Surrey. This was a special day, I know because it is a colour photograph. There are few photographs of me as a baby, I always assumed that my parents got bored by the time I arrived, having gone through it all twice already with my older brothers. I have since been assured that this was not the case, and the real reason was the lack of money, it would seem that having three children was very costly, and on one income, food took priority. Thankfully we were well fed.
Thank you to my Sponsors
£20
Deidre (bop)
£40
Julie Saunders
From Molly and Benny to Bops fund. Norma
£25
Bop
More from Bop 😁
£157.40
Bop And Hardy
Bop the greyhound has also been doing the challenge on my behalf. Thank you very much to Bop, Hardy and all of your sponsors 😁 xxx
£25
Stasha Martin
We've lost too many people to Pancreatic cancer - your amazing dad was one. Well done Julie. He would be very proud. We all are.
£21.20
Dick Coles
Well done Julie! I worked with your Dad at Godstone, and shared a love of motorcycles and membership of the Police MCC. I loved your memories and stories, particularly after his retirement.
£26.50
Bonita Jones
Remember your Dad so well when I was a WPC at Caterham, a good governor to work for, my mum also passed with pancreatic cancer & like u I only had a few weeks to come to terms with it, well done on your walk, best wishes to u & your family
£10
Ellen Saunders
So proud of your achievement! Well done ❤️ He is loved and missed everyday. Thank you for sharing these wonderful memories xxx
£20
Mark And Dawnio
£21.20
Jayne Cutter
Well done Julie - mission complete - have enjoyed reading your posts about dad, yourself and family life xx
£5.30
Lesley Saunders
An extra £5 so that I can say how incredibly proud I am of you Julie. You have walked every day despite being in pain with your hip and I admire you greatly for raising so much money. Dad would also be extremely proud of you, he always admired your tenacity in reaching every goal you set yourself. and I'm sure he's watching over you still. He would have loved your stories and memories as much as I have. Love always, Mum X
£10
Laura Dadds
You have been wonderful this month despite your own problems. Have loved following Trevor's life through your eyes. PC is devastating but they live on in us 💜
£10.60
Abigail Williams
£14.84
Sarah Hudson
£50
Ken Langridge
Best of luck for a fantastic cause. Love from Ken and Judy Langridge
£26.50
Tony Forward
Well done Julie. Your Dad would be proud.
£6.36
Bex Saunders
This is so awesome! And I’m loving reading all of your posts along the way! Good luck with the remaining walks! ❤️
£10.60
Jayne Bluck
You are doing amazing Julie and love reading about your Dad he looks like he was a great man. Xx
£20
Susan Amit
In memory of your lovely Dad Trevor.
£5
Rachel Sims
£25
Ross Francis
Well done x
£10
Julia Jagger
Fantastic work Julie
£15.90
Christine Shaw
I'm really impressed at you doing this with your current physical difficulties. Amazing!! :-) Chrissy xxx
£25
Richard Payne
Great achievement, good part of rehab after your recent surgery! Love Jean and Richard xxxx
£10.60
Bethany Keyte
you are a fabulous story teller and I can't wait for the next installment! Hope that hip is healing well. xx
£26.50
Georgina Beisly
£15
Su Claire
£21.20
Myra Greeves
£14.84
William Pugsley
£10.60
Claire
Good luck!
£20
Tristan Samuel
Well done Hun 👍🏾
£26.50
Jennifer Simmonds
Sending you love
£14.84
George Legg
£10.60
Ange Taylor
What a lovely thing to do & after your surgery too! Wish you a speedy recovery and for an amazing cause. Your Dad sounds quite a character. Look forward to seeing you soon - lots of love xx
£26.50
Charmaine Cook
Keep up the good work x
£53
Keith & Mary
Keep up the good work, we'll have to get together soon. Keith & Mary
£48
Rob Tait
Rob says your legs are worth AT LEAST £2 per leg per mile, so he's given me the dosh to match my donation! (Kate - Rob's tech asst.) Xxx
£14.84
George
Well done Princess
£10.60
Beverley Pilling
£15
Tracey Willshear
Go girl
£10
Mike Horsfield
£21.20
Anna Harris
Hips don't lie - you got this! 😘xx
£15
Helen And Lesley Bulman Wills
You’re doing great… Trevor would be proud xx
£21.20
Tanya
You really are amazing,you always put you’re all in to everything,I’m so grateful to have you in my world..thank you for sharing yours precious memories x
£20
Joanne
£53
Dave Payne
Keep going.
£14.84
Clara Greenwood
Slow and steady wins the race. So happy you’ve got your new hip xxx
£61.48
Lesley Saunders
£50
Ali Webber
Well done Julie, always an inspiration x
£20
Karen Howarth
Good luck Princess. Love and hugs K.
£5.30
Annabell Hawkins
Go Julie! ❤️🩹
£10.60
Tracey Edwards
You go girl !! All the best.
£26.50
Diana Rees
£10.60
William Harding
Go Julie
£48
Kate Harrison
£1 per leg, per mile.........might help to keep you going, Julie!! Xx
£25
John & Teri Bennett
Very best of luck Princess. A worthy tribute & a very worthy cause
£50
