Solicitor eyes epic voyage in canoe

The Law Society's annual conference - to be held this year in Birmingham - is evolving into the kind of Olympian event that stirs people to heroic achievements.

A couple of years back, we had a group of five Hampshire solicitors walking many a mile to the Bournemouth conference in a re-creation of a trek they did to the 1980 conference.

There is clearly something in the Hampshire air, for this year Matthew Robins, an assistant with Southampton-based firm Abels, will be going to the conference not by bus, train, plane, car or even foot.

Nothing so pedestrian.

Mr Robins will canoe 150 miles from London to Birmingham along the Grand Union Canal in a racing kayak.

The connection with the walkers continues because, like them, he will be raising money for the Solicitors Benevolent Association and is pictured with SBA director John Griffin, who was one of the rugged five.

Mr Robins told the Gazette that he hopes to arrive for the opening ceremony.

Obiter pointed out that there isn't one, but Mr Robins remains bold and ready to row.

Obiter will be keeping a beady eye from the tow-path, just in case he capsizes.

Offers of sponsorship and donations may be sent to Mr Robins at DX 38500.