In early September, Mark will return to the shrine of St James the Apostle in Santiago de Compostela as a pilgrim, this year on foot (in 2022 he took a different route, by bike).

He will follow in the wake of early medieval English pilgrims by sailing from the South Coast to northern Spain, then overland to the start of the 'Camino Ingles' at Ferrol, there meeting up with son Joseph, himself a keen walker.

They should reach Santiago after 6 days and some 70 miles of walking.

Mark then plans to return home by train, via Paris and London.

Mark is a Trustee of Rwanda Group Trust, a Preston-based registered charity started some 30 years ago by the late Joe Bamber, a local teacher. Its aim is to alleviate poverty at the very lowest levels in Rwanda through a network of local committees, helping in the areas of health, education, food and shelter. RGT is independent of government bodies and politicians.