Team to retrace route of ‘Cockleshell Heroes’ (From Thisisdorset)

Team to retrace route of ‘Cockleshell Heroes’

8:14am Saturday 3rd January 2009

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A GROUP of Dorset Police officers and staff have begun training for a charity kayaking expedition in memory of a friend and colleague.

They are retracing the route taken by the ‘Cockleshell Heroes’ during the Second World War in memory of Neil Munro.

The team of 10 officers and staff – known as Munro’s Mariners – are set to undertake the gruelling expedition in December 2009 and have begun their training already to ensure they are up to the challenge.

They will kayak up the Gironde and Garonne rivers in France to Bordeaux, loosely retracing the route taken by the ‘Cockleshell Heroes’ during the Second World War.

The expedition is in memory of Inspector Munro, who died earlier this year and to honour the heroic efforts of the marines who successfully undertook the original expedition in 1942.

Insp Munro’s body was found washed ashore at Sandbanks in March.

The aim of the expedition is to raise money for the Royal Marines, the Neo-Natal Unit at Poole Hospital and the Dorset Police Benevolent Fund.

The team – consisting of the kayakers themselves plus a support team – are training hard to ensure they are ready for the trip.

The voyage will take place during the hours of darkness on three consecutive nights.

All are amateurs who are aiming to build up their skills from beginner level to British Canoe Union (BCU) ‘four-star standard’.

Sgt Guy Nicholas, who is helping to prepare and plan the expedition, said: “As a team we were really keen to get involved in a charity fundraising activity that would do justice to the memory of our friend and to raise awareness of some very good causes.

“The kayakers are all beginning their training as novices and are working extremely hard already in order to be ready to take on the expedition next year.

“They are honing their paddling skills by meeting up at least once a week on the waters of Poole and in addition there is lots of work going on behind the scenes.”

He added: “As a support team, we are undertaking serious preparation and planning to ensure the team have everything they need to complete the expedition successfully.

“It’s certainly going to be a challenge but each and every member of Munro’s Mariners is determined to make the expedition a real success.”

Visit www.munrosmariners.com to sponsor the team.

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