Potty paddler Roy kayaks into record books

Potty paddler Roy Beal has written himself into the record books by kayaking from John O’Groats to Land’s End – through canals, rivers and the sea.
The 900-mile odyssey lasted 56 days and, along the way, he collected plastics and litter, and raised money for environmental charities.
He embarked on the voyage in his wooden kayak named ‘Just Add Water’ and averaged around 20 miles a day.
Roy, who lives in Seaton, Devon, was the founder of Clean Jurassic Coast and the paddle also raised money for Keep Britain Tidy and PlanB, a climate action group.
The 49-year-old said: “In 2013, I kayaked from Seaton to Land’s End, and then in 2016 I kayaked from Tower Bridge in London to Seaton – so I’ve been working up to this.
“As far as I’m aware, no one has ever kayaked from John O’ Groats to Land’s End before.
“I cleaned up as I went along, removing plastic and litter but I also promoted safety in water and collected money for the charities I’m supporting.
“Planning the trip was difficult because it involved going through rivers, canals and the sea. All my maps were laminated showing the route because the worst thing would have been to have got lost.
“The most difficult part was in Scotland because of the high winds and rain, and the worst places for pollution were the canal networks.
“I finished along the north Cornish coast to Land’s End, but there is nowhere to stop there, so I went back to Sennen Cove where I actually got out.
“It has been exhausting and a few days in from the end I had a bit of a melt-down, I was shaking and lost confidence. But the next day I did 25 miles.
“The first thing I intend to do now I’ve finished is find a proper bed because I’ve been sleeping in a tent for 55 nights.”
Roy, a former auto-electrician who is now a full-time campaigner, has a website www.kayakingforcharity.co.uk where people can donate.
For more information contact Ed Baker on 07788 392965 or Roy on 07415 406350.