crew
NOW RECRUITING FOR 2010 - Contact Glen via email (glen@glenmckeith4x4.co.uk) if you would like to join us. Possible options of 1,2 and 3 weeks or the whole trip (Expected departure January 2010).
Meet the team that completed our first, extremely sucessful trip in 2009.
Glen Mckeith
Glen McKeith, an off road 4x4 driving instructor at Land Rover Experience in North Yorkshire with a dream to compete in the Paris-Dakar rally but even more to help those less fortunate than himself along the way. Entry to the rally became impossible but the desire to help took over and the expedition was born. Glen’s dedication and mechanical skills have made the start of the trip possible and his tool box and selection of spares will hopefully keep the team rolling every inch of the way.
James Iball
James ‘Iball’ was the trip tart, no vehicle of his own but drove them all! James is a superb off road instructor with the calm character to match. Everyone loves him and his happy snappy photographic technique. He showed such enthusiasm for almost everything he did and saw, Carol has great plans to introduce him to her daughters!
Kevin Mann
Kevin, an ageing expeditioner with a wealth of skills upon which we all relied. Kevin watched with caring eyes and instructed us how to avoid damage to the vehicles and ourselves. An off road instructor, first aid trainer and international expedition leader, Kevin helped to keep us on the right road, with the right kit and in rugged good health! Determined to go ‘all the way’, Kevin calmly kept us going!
Carol Warnock
Carol, the teacher on sabbatical for a month who sometimes regretted admitting that she speaks French! Admitted to hating computers but still manned the mobile office from the back of her vehicle with a smile – usually! New to off road driving and Land Rovers but had a few good teachers – ‘just blame the co driver when things go wrong’; she survived a couple of near misses bravely and only shouted at Kev! Learnt to pack ever increasing amounts into a limited space and even attempted to cook after Caroline had gone home.
Robsinson Udale
Robinson Udale, our Rob, a crazy bird enthusiast who has family connections to outstanding butcher’s, Udales in Penrith who paved our route with bacon and sausages; clearly learns enthusiasm from his nightclub clients and knows how to have fun but accountant extraordinaire can sort out financial issues without a hint of sweat! A great person to have around!
Peter Taylor
Peter, our multi tasking organizer; he liased with Sightsavers International to sort out importing the vehicles to Gambia and Mali. His international links and travel gave him a wealth of useful experience and the ability to communicate in French! Never happier than when in the midst of a group of locals, networking or learning how to wrap his head in Arabian style!
Steven Smith
Steve Smith is a carpenter by trade working in a boys’ school in Kent but he has taken his passion for Land Rovers beyond preparation of his own and his wife’s vehicles for competition to qualify in rebuilding various parts of various Land Rovers. Steve has spent time and meticulous planning to produce a vehicle to take himself and Caroline safely to Mali but also to feed the team from the back of the food truck all the way!
Caroline Smith
With 20 years of off road competition under her belt, Caroline is no stranger to taking Land Rovers off road. She has spent time as an Instructor for Land Rover Experience, a Demonstrator Driver at Land Rovers Adventure Zone at Bluewaterand can now be found as a key member of staff in the service team at Beadles Land Rover in Sidcup,Kent.
Tyrefort to Timbuktu in 2009 was Carolines first overland trip. With the daunting task of feeding up to 18 people for over 3 weeks from the back of a Land Rover, has lead Caroline to take on a 130 double cab to convert to a complete mobile kitchen, to ease the next journey. Whilst not exactly Delia Smith, hunger pangs will certainly be unheard of with Caroline on board once again as our expedition cook.
Steven Docherty
Steve, a joiner by trade is quite used to the outdoor life on building sites but not the hustle and bustle of African life! Generous beyond belief and therefore VERY popular with the locals, especially snake charmers and the like in Marrakesh! Steve helped to fix vehicles and pack ever more people and kit into the back of his station wagon!
John Douglas
John arrived at Tyrefort to wave the team off and then joined us when it started to get warm in southern Spain – a man with a brain and a deep pocket. We hope that his bank balance will eventually recover from the multiple loans; John was a thoughtful and invaluable member of the team who accepted Steve’s insults gracefully and bounced them straight back!
Roger Skilton
Roger, photographer for the trip. Sadly had to replace the engine in his defender before we left France. An amiable character who soon adjusted to living under canvas and sharing his wardrobe with a large diesel generator. Enjoyed his creature comforts and provided the team with a basic necessity, a French plug in adaptor
Mike Walker
Mike, a retired biochemist with a quest for adventure. Maybe the bravest of us all, joining the trip knowing no one just a week before we were set to leave. Roger’s partner in crime when hunting a hot shower and nice hotel!
Neil Kerfoot
Neil, founder of the charity ‘Village by village’ so known as ‘whitey’. His life changing event was to finance building a well for his 40th birthday, came out to supervise and stayed on. Helped us by passing on gems of advice about living with the locals and carried non working watches and phones to use as ‘cadeaux’. Thoroughly enjoyed every morsel of Caroline’s food and any other he could get his hands on. Finally made a mess of his home in Adwasa so we are waiting to hear what the wife had to say on her arrival!
Paul Broom
Paul’s membership of the team was short lived but memorable. As a trustee of Village by village, one of the charities we were working with in southern Ghana, Paul joined us in Marrakesh to co-drive his newly purchased and Glen improved red Land Rover station wagon to its destination. Reputedly reached Ghana but we never saw him again after they had to rush ahead from Mauritania to allow Paul to get back to UK on time.
James Hadfield
James Hadfield is another of the young ‘uns with a job description embarrassing to translate at borders – his underwear company is popular with specific sections of the population! James puts people at their ease and has a great sense of fun, to which videos of his dancing with the locals will bear witness. He has thoroughly enjoyed his off road experience and whispers have been heard that he would like to do more!
Melissa Dell
Mel, a student to make us all feel old. An irreplaceable assistant chef who learnt to handle a camera at speed and how to reprimand the locals who mistreat their horse or donkey. Mel took time out from agricultural college to complete our team and was great company for us all, when we could persuade Charlie and the James’ that she was allowed out of their clutches. Reputedly valued at five thousand camels in the souks of Marrakesh!
Charles Hancock
Charlie Hancock, one of the team without his own vehicle to hide in who had to peddle his wares to survive! With a passion for the environment and fishing he wasn’t difficult to please and soon became known as the trip dustbin when it came to food, always get in ahead of Charlie if you want to eat!
If you'd like to contact us about any aspect of our trip, please ring 07980 743691 or email glen@glenmckeith4x4.co.uk.