15. Ian Rivers - Bench Talk with Jo Hilditch

World Record Breaker, Ian Rivers, talks about his first solo, unsupported row across the Atlantic Ocean – no GPS, just a sextant and the stars, and with only 4 days of rowing experience. As an ex-SAS serviceman, Ian has the mental and physical training to perform such a feat, nonetheless, it shows proper grit and resilience to row 3485 miles of open ocean. Ian talks about how he came to Herefordshire, his interest in pure navigation, a dramatic escape from kidnappers in the Syrian desert and of course about the voyage. The row is designed to raise money for the Special Air Service Regimental Association (SASRA) and St Michael’s Hospice in Hereford, whilst also raising awareness of the mental health challenges facing serving and veteran personnel. Link in his website below to see more about Ian’s journey and to donate.

Our bench today is on the banks of the rather calmer waters of the River Wye under the shadow of Herefords Cathedral with sounds of bells, Hereford traffic and riverside birds.

References:

Row Sentinel - Row Sentinel

Hereford Triathlon Club - Hereford Triathlon Club

SASRA - https://www.marsandminerva.co.uk/

St Michael’s Hospice - St Michael's Hospice | (st-michaels-hospice.org.uk)

The Bell at Tillington - https://thebelltillington.com/

The River Wye - The River Wye - Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (wyevalleyaonb.org.uk)

Hereford Cathedral - https://www.herefordcathedral.org

Visit Herefordshire - https://www.visitherefordshire.co.uk

The Scilly Isles - Welcome To The Isles of Scilly - Visit Isles of Scilly

Leeds Beckett University - Leeds Beckett University