DRIVER PROFILE THE WORLD REALLY IS HIS OYSTER...
In a shrinking world, where more and more people travel exten- sively these days, we would venture to say that William Walker is somewhat of a record- breaker in this regard. This Telford-based private hire driver works exceedingly hard, putting in long hours and saving all the money he can - for his next round-the- world journey. He’s often away for two months or more, then comes back and puts in another few months’ hard graft behind the wheel for NPHA member Dia- mond Taxis. Then he’s off again.
“I work to travel,” Will says. “I had my first round-the-world trip nine years ago and I was bitten by the bug. I’ve been doing it ever since.” His usual desti- nations are in Asia, and specifically in Nepal. “I was in a career as a civilian engineer working for the Min- istry of Defence in a local Army camp,” he takes up the story. “I was surrounded by influences and tales of great adventure, challenge and achievement in the form of successful operations and moun- tain summit bids in faraway places.
“After sixteen years supporting these peo- ple and envying and dreaming about the lifestyles they were leading, I decided the time had come to stop dreaming and take the bull by the horns, and get out there and live the dream.
“I have since travelled
then on to New Zealand, then over to South America. He stayed in the Atacama Desert before flying up to New York. That first trip took over eight months, after which he joined the Telford private hire circuit. As Will says, “None of this
extensively around the world in search of adventure, particular- ly in central Asia in the Himalayas of Nepal and Karako- rams of Pakistan. I’ve written a book about my experiences to show how achievable your dreams can be.” ON HIS WAY
On the first trip Will spent two months in India, in Kashmir, then eight weeks in Nepal. From there he went back to India and flew to Bangkok in Thai- land for seven weeks. Then he went on to Australia, where he stayed for five weeks;
would have been pos- sible were it not for the flexibility and free- dom that is offered by the world of private hire driving.
“When I returned from my first adventure around the world I realised it would be difficult to adapt to the shackles of a nine-to- five engineering occupation, and decided to work with a local private hire com- pany. The rest, as they say, is history.”
But Will soon han- kered to return to some of the places that he’d visited dur- ing that memorable
first journey. “There were so many things that I enjoyed,” he says. “The most abid- ing memory was the poverty and pollution in India, which was a stark contrast to the happiness of the peo- ple there. Beyond that, my biggest memory was the mind-blowing beauty of the Himalayas. “The best part of my travels was the happi- ness of the people. They were hospitable and inquisitive and genuinely happy. It was a journey back into a world that we’ve lost; in the West we’re too caught up with the material world.” Will’s first trip really did spur him on to want to return to some of the places he’d seen, in particular India, Nepal, Thailand, New Zealand and South America. “Nepal and mountain climb- ing was my true love. Since that second trip I realise that the joy the Himalayas gives me is addictive. During the last seven years I’ve been to the Himalayas at least once a year. “Nepal is a very big place and there are a lot of different climbs. There are plenty of different peaks and I like to explore as many as I can.”
TOP UP THE COFFERS Then Will comes back to Telford, works another three, four or five months - depend- ing on how long the next trip will be - and then he’s off once more. “It’s surprising- ly affordable,” he says. “As you can imagine, most coun- tries in Asia are Third World and the cost of living is very low.
I
take a budget of maybe £1,000 a month; I can live quite comfortably on that. On my last trip I took £2,000 and was away for two months. The flight is the most expensive thing.” Will’s book setting out his globetrotting expe- riences is called “Where There’s A Will There’s A Way”, in which the 44-year old chronicles his adven- tures. “The way I look at it, it’s an inspira- tional book for gap
year students and people who think it might be difficult to do. When they have read it, it may well be possi- ble for them. It’s aimed at young people to inspire them to go out and have the adven- ture of a lifetime.” “Where There’s A Will There’s a Way” is published by Author- House, and is available on-line for £10.50 from the book- shop at:
www.authorhouse.co.uk We’ll leave the last word to Will Walker: “Since that day, nine years ago thanks to the earning potential and lifestyle offered by the world of private hire driving, I have been able to ‘live the dream’ and see and experience things that most people only see from the comfort of their living room via the TV screen, or dream about.”
PAGE 52
PHTM APRIL 2010
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112
