THE worst rain for a long time, actual cow roadblocks and hills to make even the sturdiest rider weep were all part of the joy of an Oswestry councillor’s fundraising for the town’s foodbank.

Duncan Kerr, a former mayor and current Oswestry and Shropshire councillor, is safely back home with his feet up after completing the gruelling 1,000-mile ride from John O’Groats in Scotland to Land’s End in Cornwall.

Duncan’s efforts, including a pit stop at home in Oswestry, was to raise funds for the Beatrice Street-based foodbank, something he passionately supports and left him delighted.

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“I feel quite chuffed that I was able to complete it, at my age too, and I met some fantastic people,” he said.

Border Counties Advertizer: Duncan passes through his hometown. Duncan passes through his hometown. (Image: Duncan Kerr.)

“Some of them were doing the same route but the other way and it was a good adventure.

“We live in a wonderful county in terms of cycleways – I’m very pleased I did it.”

Duncan cycled on average 100 miles a day and passed through some of the worst rain he’s seen and admitted times were tough but the thought of Oswestry kept him going through the rain.

“But that’s like any challenge,” he said.

“There were some funny bits too – we had a huge storm while I was out and about and in Gretna Green, I remember coming down a hill and at the bottom, it had flooded into a river.

Border Counties Advertizer: Duncan at the beginning of his adventure. Duncan at the beginning of his adventure. (Image: Duncan Kerr.)

“The car in front of me screeched to a halt and reversed, but I thought I could give it a go because I don’t have an engine so what’s the worst that can happen?

“There were quite a few like that.

“I was even roadblocked by cows at one point, which was weird.

“One of the bizarre but happy parts of the trip was when I was on quite a long leg from Lancaster to Oswestry.

“It was the most industrial part of the route, going through St Helens and Prescot in Merseyside, and that was hard to navigate because the signs were for motorists.

“It was quite difficult because I was getting more and more tired but what cheered my heart was seeing a sign for Oswestry.

“I all of a sudden thought ‘yeah, I’ll be alright there’ and it’s nice to see your hometown on a road sign when you’re tired and I had already done about 90 miles of that leg.

“It was lovely to have Oswestry on the route and ironically when I got to Land’s End, they have a board of people who have done it with signs and the route it shows comes through Oswestry even though most wouldn’t.

“But it’s there indisputably on the map and that was a good moment.”

Border Counties Advertizer: Duncan at Dunblane Cathedral. Duncan at Dunblane Cathedral. (Image: Duncan Kerr.)

Duncan announced last month his intention to raise funds for the foodbank, a service he says is now – sadly – invaluable for people of Oswestry, and was full of praise for its staff.

And he said he was surprised at the moment he need their inspiration in spirit.

He said: “There were some towns in what I thought would be more affluent areas, such as in Devon, looking nowhere near as good as Oswestry with empty shops and dilapidation with times being tough.

“The worst day for actual riding was actually the last day in Cornwall because in your mind, you think that you can coast in, in sunshine, have a couple of days on the beach etc.

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“But that day, it poured with rain and there were very steep hills which was soul-destroying when you’re that tired.

“But you have to grit your teeth and remember why you’re doing it – for people who are worse off than me and need help.

“I don’t regret a single moment of it.”