NOT many 64-year-olds spent 11 days of their summer holiday on a 700 mile cycle ride through Europe.

But Hertford College principal Will Hutton had no hesitation in pulling on his lycra and hitting the road to help disadvantaged students.

He was one of 25 cyclists who rode from the college’s ‘Bridge of Sighs’ to the original Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy last month.

The group have raised more than £300,000 to provide scholarships and bursaries to poorer pupils to apply to Hertford.

Mr Hutton said: “We wanted to find a way of marking the 100th anniversary of the bridge and raising money to help disadvantaged pupils because Hertford has a strong tradition as a progressive college.

“I had cycled a bit before and although it was nothing quite like this I decided with a bit of training I could do it for a good cause.”

Mr Hutton set off by himself on July 20 and 74 cyclists set off the next day and 35 completed their leg at Portsmouth.

A further 40 went on to Paris via ferry with the last 25 continuing on to Venice, arriving on July 29. Mr Hutton said: “I was very emotional arriving in Venice, I couldn’t believe I’d done it.’’

Sponsor Mr Hutton at justgiving.com/willhutton2014.

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