About Al

This is the part of the site that, for those of you who know me, will be very boring. For those of you who don’t, it may also be boring.

Having to write about yourself is something I have always disliked. About a year ago I joined a well-known dating website where a friend recommends you to other fellow singletons by way of writing you a glowing reference. My dear friend Fiona came up trumps by indeed making me sound so angelic and perfect that even my own mum started laughing and asked the question, “Has she actually met you?”. I was then required to follow up her statement by writing a few words of my own. I found it excruciating. You see, it’s very difficult to strike a balance between “I’m just marvellous, deal with it” to “I wear corduroy trousers”. I didn’t want to come across as boastful nor did I want to sound dull. It was a similar experience to filling in that part of a job application form which asks “Why should we give you the job, smartarse?” In the end, after much wringing of hands, I went with: “I like walking”.

At the time of writing, | am currently single.

So here goes. Below are some of the questions I have been asked regarding myself and the walk

When and where does the walk begin?
The walk starts at Brighton Pier on Saturday 3rd January 2009 at 12 noon and ends in early 2010 on a date to be confirmed, also at Brighton Pier. I will then walk a further 53 miles to Downing Street to hand in the petition (see ‘Why is Al doing this?’ in the ‘Causes’ section). Please come down to wave me off!

Why are you starting in January, it will be freezing?
Simply because I want to try and time it so as I am walking the Scottish coast in the summer. At least then I have a slim chance of some warmer weather in the coldest parts of the country.

Why are you doing this walk?
Well it is essentially to raise money for the four charities. My mum had breast cancer (she won, hooray) and my dad has Parkinson’s Disease. After faffing about for ages, doctors seem finally to have got his prescription about right and his quality of life has improved drastically. As for the other two charities, The Little Princess Trust and The Teenage Cancer Trust, I became involved with both through my great friend, Anna Roby. She asked me to help put together a comedy extravaganza to raise money, which I did. The night was a great success and raised around £9000, thanks in no small part to the tireless efforts of Anna and her team of volunteers, not to mention (although I am about to) comics Sean Hughes, Simon Evans, Dave Hadingham, Adam Bloom and Gordon Southern, who did the best bit of compereing I have seen for years. The next benefit is pencilled in for Friday 22nd May 2009 at the Courtyard Theatre in Hereford

I was also greatly honoured and humbled to be able to meet and spend time with Simon Tarplee, co-founder of The Little Princess Trust (and builder of this website, no less) and Matthew and Hilary Engel, founders of the Teenage Cancer Trust. Please take some time to visit their sites via the links on here.

It’s a long way you idiot, what made you decide to walk around the coast of the UK?
Yes it is mum, around 11,000km at a rough estimate. The idea for the walk came about four and a half years ago. I was very miserable after the breakdown of a long term relationship and was trying to think of something to do that would take my mind off things (daft really considering the amount of time you have to think whilst walking alone for a year). Anyway, walking around Britain just popped into my head and that was it. It seemed the perfect way to kick start my life again. As it happened events over-took me and the walk idea was put on hold for a while. Now though things are different. I am having great difficulty in selling the house I have renovated in Yorkshire, so what better time to go for a walk? Hopefully when I return, it will be worth more than 25p. Also I really love the sea and the coast.

What do your family think about it?
They are being very supportive in an incredulous type of way. My daughter Harriet thinks it’s great and is convinced that I will become famous. I have tried to explain that no-one got famous just by walking, well maybe Nelson Mandela walking to freedom, but that took him years. I am not expecting my birthday celebrations to be held at Wembley Stadium anytime soon. The Gardeners in Brentwood maybe, but not Wembley. I am also expecting to be finished within 12 months.

Actually Neil Armstrong as well. He got famous for being the first to do that walk Michael Jackson does.

Won’t you be lonely?
Yes, but being stuck in Huddersfield as I am now can get pretty lonely. I figure I might as well be out doing something instead of sitting indoors waiting for it to stop raining. I can be looking at lovely scenery while waiting for it to stop raining instead.

How will you keep in touch?
It’s not 1894 you know. Via satellite phone and a blog which will appear on here is the short answer. You can also leave messages of encouragement, love and mild scorn which I will read every night before bed. I am also planning on writing a book about the whole adventure which I hope I do not have to self-publish. Are you listening Chatto and Windus?

What’s your favourite cooking utensil?
What? What’s that got to do with anything?

Just incase you need to know things like that, see below for list of facts.

Al Facts
Name: Alaric James Dynevor
Age: 37
D.O.B: 15th February 1971
Live: Huddersfield, but my heart is in Brentwood, ESSEX
Profession: Total Walker
Kids: One daughter, Harriet aged 15
Footy team: West Ham United
Girlfriend: We have covered this. No.
Pets: Maggie, a dog
Fave Music: Northern Soul and The Smiths
Crisps: Salt and Vinegar
Eyes; Green
Hair: Strawberry blond/titian/auburn. NOT ginger
Likes: The Sea
Dislikes: Baked Beans
Favourite cooking utensil? Wooden Spoon

If you have a question for me, however banal, please forward it to adynevor@hotmail.co.uk