I will be doing the Matelot Spider Memorial triathlon on New

Year’s Day. This will involve plunging into the sea, cycling a bike over
Gosport’s infamous Pneumonia Bridge before running around the uncertain terrain
of Gosport Park. This will be topped off toast in a local pub. Each leg will be
carried out in suitable fancy dress. The hope is we can toast the memory of a
good friend Matthew Webb (Matelot Spider). In the spirit of the £40 000 he raised
over the years, I will be collecting for charity. Spider passed away from
pancreatic cancer, one of the most pernicious forms of this disease and his
family agree that donating any monies raised 
to the University of Southampton’s efforts to build a specialist cancer
immunology centre, would be highly appropriate. Spider was an outstanding colleague too many with whom he
served during his military service. He has a legacy of many laboratory
technicians with whom he served and helped train, including several who have
gone into the National Health Service. He was dearly loved by his family and
the extensive network of friends. He rarely failed to impress with his lust for
life. Always inclusive and encouraging on the virtue of the outdoor life, he’d
be delighted if anybody wanted to join me in the “challenge”. It will kick off
at 11.30 at the Gafir’s Lifeboat station, Stokes Bay Gosport (http://gafirs.org.uk/new-years-swim).

(http://www.southampton.ac.uk/youreit).

Happy Days.