Mike Clayton
Emma Porter
John Christie
John is the old man of the trip. A keen diver and a 1st kye in karate, John has travelled extensively in Europe, has scuba dived in the Med and Red Sea and has been on caving expeditions to places such as the Phillipines.
Until recently, John was working full-time in his business he has built up from scratch, now a highly successful environmental waste business. John and the team will be joined by Val in various countries, so that she can share in some of our adventures.
John has riden motocycles for 35 years and has a love for speed. Current other vehicles include 5 motobikes ranging from 125 to 1200cc and a Lotus Europa S.
Val Iqbal
Is even older than John! Val is joining us in Tunisia, Jordan and Lebanon, possibly Hungary.
Val started her career in the Health Service as a nurse then into management. She now works in Social Services managing a team who work intensively with vulnerable families where the children are at risk of coming into care.
She has lived overseas in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and travelled extensively. She has been a keen runner and has taken part in a number of half marathons. John and Val recently completed the GR221 in Majorrca. Cycling, diving, caving; drinking, eating, music and dancing
when not working!
Emma, Mike, John and Val are all members of the Craven Pothole Club in the Yorkshire Dales and have been on trips together caving in Hungary, Romania and Slovakia as well as scuba diving and climbing in Jordan. Friends for many years, we hope to be joined by other friends old and new along the way. For all of us, this trip is a once in a lifetime and we look forward to sharing our journey.
Mike is currently the Training Manager for a heights safety company, Total Access (UK) Ltd. The company, based near Stafford, specialises in access and rescue solutions for industry. The company has kindly given Mike a 12 month sabbatical in which to undertake this trip of a lifetime. For more information about Total Access check out www.totalaccess.co.uk
When not at work, Mike spends most of his spare time caving, climbing, ice climbing or mountain biking with Emma, in fact anything to avoid DIY. Their interest in caving has lead to five expeditions to remote parts of China and other trips to various countries around the world including the Middle East, America and Eastern Europe. Mike is currently the Newsletter Editor for the British Caving Association and is involved in two cave rescue teams, GCRG and MCRO.
Mike and Emma have owned Land Rover's for the past 15 years, the current 110 has been built specially with this trip in mind. Modifications for this trip include the addition of a second fuel tank, inverter and twin batteries with a split charger.
Emma Porter
Emma is the Claims Director for Legal Insurance Management Ltd (LIM), a legal expenses insurance company based in Stourbridge, West Midlands http://www.legalim.co.uk/. Emma too has been fortunate to be granted a sabbatical for this trip and feels extremely privileged to be in this position thanks to her very understanding fellow directors! She admits she will be packing a law book or two for the trip to keep up to date!
Emma, as well as an active caver and a member of two cave rescue teams, is a representative for the British Caving Association. She also assists with the organisation of the UK's national caving conference, Hidden Earth as lecture secretary for 2008 and 2009.
John Christie
John is the old man of the trip. A keen diver and a 1st kye in karate, John has travelled extensively in Europe, has scuba dived in the Med and Red Sea and has been on caving expeditions to places such as the Phillipines.Until recently, John was working full-time in his business he has built up from scratch, now a highly successful environmental waste business. John and the team will be joined by Val in various countries, so that she can share in some of our adventures.
John has riden motocycles for 35 years and has a love for speed. Current other vehicles include 5 motobikes ranging from 125 to 1200cc and a Lotus Europa S.
Val Iqbal
Is even older than John! Val is joining us in Tunisia, Jordan and Lebanon, possibly Hungary.
Val started her career in the Health Service as a nurse then into management. She now works in Social Services managing a team who work intensively with vulnerable families where the children are at risk of coming into care.
She has lived overseas in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and travelled extensively. She has been a keen runner and has taken part in a number of half marathons. John and Val recently completed the GR221 in Majorrca. Cycling, diving, caving; drinking, eating, music and dancing
when not working!
Emma, Mike, John and Val are all members of the Craven Pothole Club in the Yorkshire Dales and have been on trips together caving in Hungary, Romania and Slovakia as well as scuba diving and climbing in Jordan. Friends for many years, we hope to be joined by other friends old and new along the way. For all of us, this trip is a once in a lifetime and we look forward to sharing our journey.
