In the second of three big challenges as part of our Giving Day fundraising event, our Bursar Tim Clayden undertook the Phileas Fogg Challenge. The challenge involved visiting 10 mystery destinations in mainland UK, all of which have a connection (however tenuous) to Green Templeton. Tim was presented with a clue to each new destination, the difficulty of which was dependent on how much funding was raised at each point. Tim faced cancelled trains, a lack of facilities, a 10:30pm dinner and an early rise of 3:30am on the second day, but was stoic under these conditions and returned to college victorious at 6:50pm; just in time! He then rowed the final minutes of the row-a-thon, and avoided the penalty for lateness which would have involved blue hair dye…
Well done to Tim for such an incredible feat in just 36 hours!
See his journey stop by stop in pictures:
DAY ONE 06:58 - About to start in the Stables. 07:16 and at my first venue 13 Norham gardens. Still feeling puffed from my gentle go on the rowing machine. Next clue time. 1600 already. Gosh.07:53 - LOCATION ONE. 13 Norham Gardens, once home to Sir William Osler and current home of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.On my way to Gloucester green bus station. The market is just opening up. Lovely tomatoes. Man asked if I could take his photo. Wonder if he is part of the plan. Said no so now definitely not. 07:50 - Waiting for the bus to depart from Oxford.On the bus to Swindon. Lots of kids happy to be going to school! Faringdon. Lots of traffic. 09:32 - LOCATION TWO. Bodleian Libraries Book Storage Facility near Swindon.Meeting Boyd at the Bodleian Book Storage Facility.10:02 - At Bodleian Libraries Book Storage Facility book stacks.In the stacks of the Β£26-million Book Storage Facility (BSF), capable of holding 8.4 million volumes on 153 miles of shelvingTicket bought for Cardiff. Time to grab a coffee. Beautiful day. Word of advice. Never try and grab a coffee at Swindon railway station. Unbelievably bad service. Really incredibly awful.11:05 - My train to Cardiff in 8 minutes. Time to sit down and have food. Been on the phone all morning. Never easy to give difficult news. But this is fun. Train arriving so boarding. Tim the Bursar at Cardiff Central waiting for the train to Cathays and Pharmagenesis. Welsh announcements. My wife should be here. Seagulls trying to steal my lunch.Cathays and Pharmagenesis in the distance. 12:58 - LOCATION THREE. Oxford PharmaGenesis Office in Cardiff. Pictured with Communications Director Paul Farrow.The research team at Pharmagenesis - 9 doctorates! Solved the clue after two. So Manchester Piccadily and then a tram.Just left the lovely team at Pharmagenesis. Paul and Sophie walked me to the station. Interesting work going on at that office. Now waiting for the 1340 to Cardiff then long train ride to Manchester piccadily. A photo at Cecil Green 's birthplace will tell me what next. So far feet, bike, bus and train. Safe to eat my lunch on the train- no seagulls! 17:16 - Manchester. Trying to find the tram. Rush hour fun. On the tram to Bury and Whitefield. Impressive new trams. 17:54 - LOCATION FOUR. Whitefield, birthplace of Dr Cecil Green, founder of Green College.Deansgate-castle Station. Not even a loo. Tension rising!On the train to Preston, then Carlisle and then Gretna Green. This is all an adventure for me as I have never been in these parts. New accents and everything. The relentless quest for funds for green Templeton continues. Preston Station. 1955 to Edinburgh via Carlisle about to arrive. Razor sharp timings here! All well. Lovely victorian station with great painted iron work. Cold. Still no loo. Iron bladders round here. Train To Carlisle21:12 - Passing through Carlisle. Nice couple in the train took a photo of me and the Carlisle sign. 21:44 - LOCATION FIVE. Gretna Green. 'Bit old to be running away to Gretna. But lovely all the same. Drink time!'21:48 - At Gretna Green with next clue (for the morning!)The essentials - a drink and food. Did get the clue- Wakefield on the plaque. So up and at them tomorrow. Thanksgiving everyone from the happy Bursar. Hope the night goes well.3x alarms set to wake us up at 4.30. However. .... One set for 3.30 so we are wide awake and having breakfast at 3.50amDAY TWO 04:51 - With wife Kathy heading to Gretna Green Station via famous blacksmith's cottage where you could get married.Carlisle Station. 90 minutes to kip on the train. Happy Bursar who set the alarm too early.07:22 - Going through Yorkshire Dales. Still dark. Dozing on and off.Says it all.Yorkshire dales and fast moving bush.07:57 - The Rising Day In Skipton.Ms Bursar enjoying the rising day at Skipton .... back to the Welsh cakes08:39 - Leeds Station and next train on time.09:13 - Arrived in Wakefield. The birthplace of John Radcliffe. Beautiful morning. Stop no. 6. What comes next? Tim the Bursar and his beautiful accomplice.09:13 - LOCATION SIX. Wakefield, birthplace of John Radcliffe, whose estate funded the construction of the Radcliffe Observatory.09:49 - Reading up on next stop in the mystery tour.Bursar taking a nap before Stevenage dashOn the train to St NeotsKath checks the logistics. Next stop St Neots and panther like we will spring forward to the taxi and St Edmunds. 12:57 - LOCATION SEVEN. Our sister college, St Edmund's, Cambridge. Tim Clayden with Catherine Arnold the Master.At Cambridge Station and buying some lunch. Lovely visit to St Edmunds. You have the pic and more coming from hannah at St Edmunds. On to London and Franklin Templeton. Honored by possibility of meeting top people. On our way. Challenge no 7 done I think.13:10 - In good time for a train. This time Cambridge station.On the train to Brighton. We go on. Tim the 'stoic' Bursar.To Cannon St or bust!!Just on underground station waiting for the train. View above as we arrived.Made it !15:04 - LOCATION 8. Franklin Templeton Investments.Next clue grabbed with a 90second window from Jenny JohnsonClue received from CEO Jenny JohnsonTrying to figure out the clue. Got the destination at 1, needed the detail of the rendezvous in 3.On the DLR.Tim taking a rest st Cutty SarkJust entered the Observatory groundsStunning view of London from observatory Hill. Nearly there.Another view. Have the clues and about to open.16:01 - LOCATION NINE. Greenwich Observatory.About to open... For the 10th and last clue. We are at Maze Hill Station. Last piece of banana cake. Coming on home. Stoic and his fair assistant seated. Next stop SBS.Glass of wine necessary and seated opposite spouse of an ex-Green student. Small world. Be still for an hour.SBS Maggie Thatcher wingsbs in full glory18:43 - LOCATION TEN. Said Business School.Both Denise and Tim succeeded at their challenges!Arrival back to Green Templeton.A victorious Bursar returns to the Stables Bar.Live music celebrates the end of Giving Day.
Created: 5 February 2020
