Andy calls into town on his 7,900-mile walk

LONG distance walker Andy Peddle strode into Bognor Regis to a warm welcome.
Andy PeddleAndy Peddle
Andy Peddle

Andy, 70, clocked up 5,780 miles when he arrived at the town’s Salvation Army base. He was greeted by about 20 people and enjoyed a welcome cup of tea and rest.

He is on a mission to walk 7,900 miles or 15m steps around the British Isles and to Dublin to raise awareness of the charity’s work with homeless people and the victims of human trafficking.

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He said: “The Salvation Army has been working with homeless people for some 140 years. There is still the same problem now as there was then.

“Society has not moved on. Things are actually getting worse. There’s more people giving out food parcels than before and more food banks opening up.”

Andy started his marathon trek – dressed in attention-grabbing top hat and tails – on May 16, 2012, on the Shetland Islands.

He has walked his way south and arrived in Bognor last Thursday after 15.5 miles on the road from Petersfield. A brief stop at The Hub church and community centre to chat about his epic trek and to sign You’ll Never Walk Alone was followed by a further seven miles striding out towards Southsea.

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He was then driven back to Bognor for a night’s sleep before he resumed his walk where he stopped.

His destination is central London on November 14. He has raised more than £30,000 so far. “I’ve always been interested in walking,” said the retired Christian book salesman.

“It’s a healthy pastime and I’m going past some nice places at a pleasant pace.

“But there are days when I don’t want to get started but it’s what I’m going to do. I’m absolutely confident I will finish the walk.”

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Lt Jonathan Rouffett, the Salvation Army’s minister in Bognor, told those who met Andy the church had a direct link to helping those who had been trafficked.

“Two of our members have been on a trafficking run,” he said. “They have driven to a place to pick up a victim and a child victim and taken them to a safe house.”

Since July 1, 2011, the Salvation Army and its partners have helped 300-plus victims of trafficking.