DAVID JONES David & rex D
avid Jones, co-owner of successful cookery school Manna from Devon, and
Chairman of Dartmouth Food Festival, has completed a mammoth 630-mile plus journey around the South West Coast Path to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. The former Navy man and management consultant chose the charity for this challenge in memory of his two parents, Grace and Ray, who both succumbed to the debilitating and aggressive disease, which attacks the motor functions, robbing sufferers of the ability to stand or control their bodies. “Since my mother’s death in 2005
I’ve been thinking about some chal- lenge to raise funds,” he said. “I wanted
Walking 630 Miles around the South West Coast Path during the wettest and most difficult weather the country has seen in a decade? This sounds like a challenge for Kingswear’s most unflappable chef…
was just biblical. We kept in touch by mobiles, but there were often places with no signal, so there wasn’t much contact! David was amazing, kept on target and just kept going.” Few people would have kept going in the face of the weather David had to contend with: one of the wettest years on record had left much of the pathway treacherous and landslides had made parts of it inaccessible, and though David did ignore some “Pathway Closed” signs to reach his goal, many detours added to the miles he had to walk.
The pair slept in the camper van – often waking to the sound of rain pounding on the roof - but also ‘foisted’ themselves on a number of friends who had homes along the
“I wanted to undertake something I wasn’t sure I could complete”
to undertake something I wasn’t sure I could complete. So I decided to walk the Coast Path in the middle of winter and also set myself the target of finish- ing in 25 days, which meant I had to walk just over 25 miles a day. “I didn’t even walk 25 miles in one
day during my training – it was by no means a certainty i could finish.” David’s wife Holly – who co-owns
and runs Manna with him - provided unstinting support throughout his training and then on the walk itself: following him in a camper van, watching him walk away each morning and going to agreed meeting places to meet up later in the day. “When the weather got very bad it was a bit nerve wracking to see him head off in the morning sometimes,” she said. “There was one morning on the Lizard in Cornwall when David walked off into a howling gale in the darkness - it was just after 6 - and it
route, said Holly. “We tested the patience of anyone
we knew who happened to be unlucky enough to have a home on the route!” she laughs. “We weren’t the best house guests when we arrived with David in soaking wet shoes and socks, and often with a soaking wet dog too. David would eat some food and be in bed
Friends and supporters including Mitch Tonks and henry Bomby cheered on David as he passed Dartmouth castle.
when normally you would be breaking open the wine at a friend’s house! We are incredibly grateful for the wonderful support that all of these lovely people have shown – they made the challenge possible.”
Rex – the couple’s Springer Spaniel – accompanied David on much of the walk. The brave and obedient canine walked on 18 of the 25 walking days, managing to do two thirds of each of those walks. “He was a very positive presence on the walk,” said David. “He must have walked more than I did even though he only walked on those 18 days – he charged around so much!” Walking into Dartmouth, David was
gratified to be met by many friends and supporters, who turned out for a special welcome at Dartmouth Castle. Mitch Tonks and Kingswear sailor Henry Bomby were there to cheer on David’s incredible effort. “It felt lovely to be met by so many
friends as we came into Dartmouth,” said David. “Some joined us at Start Point and did the walk into town. We had a stop-off at the Castle Tea Rooms and then caught the ferry across to Kingswear. Colin even opened the Ship early for us all!”
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