Former Lord Lieutenant bids for donations (From Bicester Advertiser)

Former Lord Lieutenant bids for donations

7:00am Saturday 16th June 2012 in News By Damian Fantato, covering Summertown, Jericho and North Oxford. Call me on 01865 425429

A FORMER Lord Lieutentant of Oxfordshire is pulling on his walking boots in aid of charity.

Sir Hugo Brunner will be walking the 65 miles of the Oxfordshire Way to raise money for an Oxford-based family mediation charity.

The 76-year-old, who lives in North Oxford, said: “I have always been a keen walker but I have never walked the whole of the Oxfordshire Way before.

“I am looking forward to it. During my time as Lord Lieutenant I have known a lot of the countryside, villages and towns of Oxfordshire but it will be very nice to see some parts of the county I have not got to know.

“I have been putting a certain amount of training in. I bike around a lot and I take a fair amount of exercise for someone my age.”

Sir Hugo was Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire between 1996 and 2008 when he retired and was succeeded by Tim Stevenson who currently holds the position.

Sir Hugh starts the walk tomorrow and aims to walk 10 miles a day to reach Henley-on-Thames next Saturday.

The money he raises will go towards Headington-based Oxfordshire Family Mediation which offers help and advice for families going through a divorce.

Sir Hugh, who is a patron of the charity, said: “It is a very good organisation and very much needed.

He is aiming to raise £15,000 and will be setting off with a group of supporters – but is inviting more people to take part.

He said: “People can join me for the whole week or just for one day.”

* To donate, visit http://www.justgiving.com/Hugo-Brunner. To join him on the walk, email events@ofm.org.uk or download the registration form at http://www.ofm.org.uk