Back to Work

I have just returned from the Via Sacra Walk and had a break from editing the ABC website. I had hoped to do some posting but the laptop I took had a mixed reaction to hotel wireless networks, and as such I decided to have a complete break. 

We started from Pfetterhouse in the South and my job in team support during the walk was driving the team vehicle. This committment ended just above Lille as my job was done. On board a lot of the time was historian and educator Sir Anthony Seldon who is the official historian to Downing Street. Sir Anthony Francis Seldon, FRSA FRHistS FKC, is a British schoolmaster and a contemporary historian, commentator and political author, known in part for his biographies of John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

We were very involved in the political turmoil of BREXIT as Sir Anthony’s new book on David Cameron'Cameron at Number 10' in paperback is coming out shortly and there was constant data and voice traffic between newspapers; The Times, Daily Mirror and also Number 10. These were exciting times.

There is a lot more to be said on the Via Sacra Walk, but having returned with the equivalent of severe jet lag, I am focusing on recovering. 

For me this was a chance to glance into the system that produces our upper classes and a chance to be close to someone who has reached the very echelon of their profession. Anthony is hard to get to know; 'I am a man of few words Simon' he said, and indeed it was some days before we managed what most people might call a conversation. Slowly we warmed to each other and my driving and judgement came to be trusted. I came to like Sir Anthony, his dry sense of humour and his wit. His personal generosity.  Anthony is enormously charismatic and going hiking in a suit and trainers he must be one of the most unusual walkers you could meet.  The sight of Anthony - who runs marathons - suddenly dashing off in his suit like ‘Road Runner’ down a dusty path into the distance caused us all to laugh. He can be serious, judgmental and humorous all in the same five minutes. 

Did I do a good job? ‘Simon the team would have been &^%$” £@ without you’ said a former public health CEO who was one of our walkers. I certainly learned a lot and not just about WW1. 

I would especially like to thank our sponsors. You can read more here: http://www.viasacrawalk2016.org.uk/thewalk

I am back, I have survived the ordeal and when fully fit, away we go once more.  

Sir Anthony Seldon