Naval officer’s round Britain victory walk
It is full steam ahead for a naval chief who has worn out nine pairs of boots walking 3,000 miles for charity. Commander Jane Allen hit the 3K barrier on her Round Britain Victory Walk, as she entered Campbeltown last week and tramped to the Mull of Kintyre lighthouse before meeting Sea Cadets at their Royal Naval Parade. Cdr Allen left Admiral Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory in Portsmouth on Trafalgar Day, October 21 last year, in her bid to raise £50,000 for the Women’s Royal Naval Service Benevolent Trust and The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. So far, Cdr Allen, supported by her ex-Royal Marine husband Frank in the Victory Van, has raised more than £13,000 and inspired countless people during her average daily walks of 17 miles. Cdr Allen said: ‘I started with five pairs of boots and was alternating them. As they have worn out and I have bought more my boot size has increased as my feet have spread. ‘Between us, Frank and I have almost 70 years’ service in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, from Aden to Afghanistan. ‘The Victory Walk seemed a good way of marking the end of my career, by taking on a year’s challenge and ‘giving back’. ‘This is the ultimate challenge for me. In 2007 I walked from John o’ Groats to Land’s End after returning from Iraq, raising £12,000 for the RBL Poppy Appeal. ‘That walk led me to being nominated and selected for the privilege of being a 2012 Olympic Torchbearer.’ Cdr Allen joined the naval service almost four decades ago, when the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) was separate from the Royal Navy. During her time with the RNR she has served in Iraq and Afghanistan and held numerous unit and national jobs. In 2017, her final job was working full time for the Royal Navy, leading on the centenary celebrations (WRNS100) of the formation of the WRNS in 1917. Trekking anti-clockwise from Portsmouth Cdr Allen has walked through more than 20 counties on all types of terrain, in all sorts of weather and for fun she has also walked 20 piers. She crossed the border into Scotland at the end of April after walking 1,367.5 miles from Portsmouth. Cdr Allen added: ‘My highlights have been amazing views from Beachy Head; chancing upon countless monuments and memorials commemorating everything from wars to winkles; crossing the Thames on Westminster Bridge; reaching the UK’s most easterly, northerly and westerly points
at Lowestoft, Dunnet Head and Ardnamurchan Point respectively.’ Her ambitious fundraising plan has impressed naval top brass, with Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock singing her praises. He said: ‘Jane is bravely throwing herself in at the deep end again to raise money for the principal charity of the Royal Navy and the WRNS Benevolent Trust.’ Cdr Allen’s walk will continue down the west coast of England before passing into Wales. The final stretch will involve walking the South West Coast Path as she heads back towards HMS Victory in Portsmouth where she hopes to arrive in the spring of 2019.