But finds his way again and charity cycle ride is big success

An Ealing vicar who took part in a 100-kilometre (65-mile) all-night cycle ride around London has admitted he got a little lost on the route!

Reverend Peter Mackenzie of St John’s Church, West Ealing, was one of an intrepid team of cyclists who took part in the ride to support Uganda Development Services (UDS), based at the Lido Centre in Mattock Lane.

UDS provides computer training, literacy aids and support for subsistence farmers to improve their livelihoods. Their work focuses around Kamuli, in rural Eastern Uganda.

After weeks of wind and rain, fortunately the skies cleared for the ride on Saturday night into Sunday morning, with UDS’ cyclists among some 3,000 charity riders including Princess Eugenie and TV presenter Ben Fogle.

The route followed two huge loops round north and south London, and took in some 50 famous landmarks, plus a couple of challenging hill climbs.
But that wasn’t tough enough for one of UDS’ riders, Wayne Meyer, who more than doubled the distance by cycling in from Maidenhead and then back again after crossing the finishing line early on Sunday – a total of 227 kilometers, or 141 miles in old money. It all took him only 8 hours 29 minutes.

And Reverend Mackenzie made it back to Ealing for the 10 a.m. service at St. John’s.

Asked what were the highlights, he said: “Tower Bridge beautifully illuminated, breath-taking views of London from Greenwich at night, Alexandra Palace at dawn and Crystal Palace and from the bridges shortly after sunrise.”

He also confessed: “A large group of us got lost at one point somewhere around Highbury but we soon found our way back onto the route.”

Reverend Mackenzie raised raised over £600 for Uganda Development Services. It is still not too late to donate via his justgiving page http://www.justgiving.com/Peter-Mackenzie0
For more about UDS visit http://www.ugandadev.org.uk/

18th June 2012