Reading this blog hopefully shows that there are lots of interesting things happening here at Ordnance Survey. However, we also have lots of staff doing interesting things away from work.

Husband and wife team Sam and Jean Martin, who have jointly worked at Ordnance Survey for 50 years, have just returned from an 8 day expedition walking the 84 mile route of Hadrian’s Wall.

Along with their 17 year-old son and other friends and colleagues, they did it to raise money for George’s Trust – a charity set up in memory of George O’Brien, a family friend who suddenly died at age 17 from cancer which gave no warning.

Sam explains:

“George had got up one morning complaining of difficulty breathing. An hour later he was in hospital and died shortly after. He had seemed like a perfectly normal, healthy and active teenager. His death was a dreadful shock and a reminder of how fragile life is.”

The walk had taken months of planning and was an emotional journey for all those involved as several years before he died, George had vowed to walk Hadrian’s Wall to raise money for a cancer charity in memory of his grandfather who had also been struck down with the disease.

Sam and Jean Martin with friends having completed their walk.

The walkers were assisted by good weather and hearty breakfasts supplied along the route by various youth hostels and army camps, including one served up by a former Ordnance Survey surveyor who now works as a Youth Hostel warden.

Sam and Jean are trustees of George’s Trust which raises money to support teenage cancer treatment at Southampton General Hospital, supports Romsey Abbey choristers and gives grants to local youth groups – most recently £500 to take deprived children on a camping holiday.

Overall the walk raised £2500 and the team have another fundraising walk planned.

This time it’s the ‘Walk the Test Way’ along the River Test on Sunday 10 October.

For more information or to join them visit www.walkthetestway.org.uk