Newbury & Thatcham Advertiser 26/11/21

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Newbury & Thatcham Advertiser

Friday, November 26, 2021

NEWS

Pupils inspired by global adventurer Ultimate triathlete tells of his daring exploits around the world

Mandy Clark and Jenni Collins

Mumsnot the word A WEBSITE that aims to bring people together has been launched in West Berkshire during the Covid lockdown. Initially, Mandy Clark

By SARAH BOSLEY sarah.bosley@newburynews.co.uk @newburytoday

naturally open when you work hard,” he added. “Break things into small steps – a lit- tle bit every day makes the big things happen.” One pupil, Oscar, said: “James Ketchell has inspired me to never give up on my dreams, no matter what any- one else says.” Another, Ella, added: “James has encouraged me to be more of a risk-taker, which is something I find tricky, but I will keep trying.” Brooke said she was in- spired by his stories of kind- ness from around the world. “He taught me to be kind to others because they will treat you the same way.” Mr Ketchell completed his ‘ultimate triathlon’ on Febru- ary 1, 2014 – just seven years after a serious motorcycle accident left him with bro- ken legs and the prognosis he would be unlikely to walk again. In 2019 he flew an open cockpit gyroplane around the world – setting a Guinness World Record.

A GLOBAL adventurer who has rowed, climbed and cycled his way around the world inspired pupils at Speenhamland School. James Ketchell – the only person to have ever complet- ed the ‘ultimate triathlon’ of rowing the Atlantic, climb- ing Mount Everest and then cycling around the world – shared his exciting stories of adventure and achievement with the pupils at the New- bury primary school. He visited last week, when he wowed them with his tales of rowing solo across the At- lantic, cycling around the world on a second-hand bicy- cle, as well as scaling to the top of Mount Everest, before sharing the next stages of his future adventures. Headteacher Julie Lewry said: “Having James Ketchell in to talk to all of our children was an amazing experience. “Through captivating sto-

“I have a few amazing non- mum friends, but where are all the other women, the ones who chose not to listen out for the pitter-patter of tiny feet? ” She grabbed her laptop and Mumsnot was born – a place to “create conversations and a community of people who aim to keep each other fuelled with interesting observations about life or maybe even just laughs”. And now she has joined forces with a mum from New- bury, Jenni Collins, to spread the word. The website offers a place where you can read “uplifting stories from some wonderful women” and has a growing in- ternational audience. “We are not excluding an- yone,” said Jenni. “It’s all in- clusive and everybody’s view is valid.” Visit www.mumsnot.net or follow it on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @themumsnot

wanted a space where people who did not have children – either by choice or by fate – would be able to connect with others. But since the coronavirus pandemic she says she realis- es it can be so much more, to so many more people. The idea came about while she was in the bath pon- dering what she’d heard on that morning’s Chris Evans’ breakfast show. “I was wondering where all the other not-mums were,” Mandy said. “I thought about doing a blog and by doing it I would find a community. “Even now, though I’m now in my 50s, I find I’m still slightly tuned in to feeling that I missed out.

Adventurer James Ketchell at Speenhamland school

The pupils were encouraged to recognise the school val- ues – respect, responsibility, risk-taking, resilience and re- sourcefulness – in Mr Ketchell and see how these values could help them to achieve any goal. Mr Ketchell told the chil- dren that “the hardest part is believing you can do it”. “Doors of opportunity will

ries of his adventures around the world, he encompassed our school values and taught the children about the im- portance of working hard to achieve their goals. “From Foundation stage to Year 6, all the pupils were en- thralled by the presentation and left the hall feeling truly inspired.”

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