KES students complete 125-mile relay in honour of Shakespeare

Students at Stratford’s King Edward VI School completed a 125 mile sporting challenge in honour of the Bard last Saturday, transporting a quill by foot and bike to the Globe in London.

30 students and 20 parents and staff took part in the Shakespeare Shuttle, which began at 5am at the Guildhall.

The challenge started with a gruelling 75 mile cycle ride from Stratford to Marlow, before the quill was handed over to another team who had planned to row 15 miles down the Thames to Windsor.

Unfortunately the river was too high to row down so the quill was transported along the towpath by bike.

For the final leg of the relay the quill was transported on foot by teams of students and teachers, running five mile stretches to the entrance of the Globe where they were met by Neil Constable, chief executive of the theatre.

Richard Mahony, director of sport at KES said: “The student’s efforts were absolutely immense, their behaviour throughout was fantastic and I am very proud of them. I think the hardest part was the initial cycle ride, as were the logistics of making it happen, but we had a good team.

The challenge was completed in 13-and-a-half hours and organisers hope to raise £5,000 for three good causes.

For more on Stratford's Shakespeare Celebrations, read this week's Herald.