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Interview with... Ben Macpherson, walker for peace

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Walking for peace

Name: Ben Macpherson
Age: 20
Occupation: Student

Hi Ben - so, tell us about your walk - where did you walk from and to, and how long did it take you?

Last summer, between the the 24th July and the 21st September, I walked from my home in Edinburgh to the centre of London.

Why did you decide to do this walk?

I decided to do it for four reasons: firstly, I had always wanted to go on a long journey by foot. I don’t know why but I just felt that actually covering the miles with my own two feet would be such an adventure (and it was). I also wanted to get a better sense of the UK. Most importantly, I wanted to do it because I wanted to raise awareness of the United Nations International Day of Peace. I aimed to do this by attracting the attention of the local media in every area I passed through, and by speaking to people throughout my journey.

Lastly, the summer before, a family friend of ours had passed away. His name was Mr Gimson. He had been a Japanese prisoner of war and was one of the nicest and most amazing people I’ve ever met. He had left me some money and I wanted to use it wisely. As well as doing the walk in aid of International

Peace Day I also wanted to do it in memory of Mr Gimson.

For those that know nothing about it, tell us a bit about the United Nations International Day of Peace...

The United Nations International Day of Peace is a visionary concept and the best chance of world peace we’ve ever had. This day is meant to be observed and recognised on the 21st September annually. It is a time when all cultures, races, religions and peoples are asked to celebrate and engage in a day of ceasefire, non-violence, celebration and global unity. It is something created for the peoples which, to succeed, needs the support of the peoples everywhere. With support it has the potential to actually become an annual day of ceasefire, or at least a time where there is less violence in our world. I simply wanted to get the idea of 21/09 out there in my country and to gather as much positive support for the idea as possible!

Click here >> for more information on the day - it is a really amazing idea!

It’s a long walk - what preparation did you do, in terms of fitness, buying kit, planning your route and accommodation etc?

In the months before I set off I did a lot of running. I also walked from my home in Edinburgh to my planned destination for day one. This gave me an idea of what I had to achieve on each of the 60 days. In terms of my kit, I went as light as I could. I had a few clothes, a high-visibility jacket, a raincoat, sports-style ankle supports, toiletries, deep heat, a folder full of media contact details, a walkman (essential) and a large white flag with ‘21 SEPTEMBER, INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY’ printed on it so people could recognise me.

Planning my route was one of the first things I did. I worked with the police to see which roads I could walk on and what I would need to be careful of. I also tried to go through as many cities and towns as possible (because that is where the media is) and through places where I knew people that I could stay with. Anywhere that I didn’t have someone to stay with I stayed in a B&B or a cheap hotel (which I booked before I left). Sometimes, I would have to do two days walking in one day. On such occasions I would have a day off the next day.

However, what took up most of my time before I set off was sending literally thousands of emails: to all MPs, MSPs and members of the Welsh Assembly; to religious figures throughout the country and from all religions; and to local media groups along my route and national firms - newspapers, radio stations and television companies.

Tell us about the day you set off from Edinburgh...

It was strange to set off after six months of preparation. It was OK though. I met up with the major Christian church leaders in Scotland near Edinburgh Castle and they managed to get some photographers along, and articles were published. I also heard myself on the radio for the first time which was cool. The station (Forth One) mixed my story in to the Proclaimers song ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ which, to me, became the theme tune to my walk.

About how many miles did you walk each day?

On average I walked about 15 miles a day. Some days I walked less and on days where I had to walk twice the distance I walked up to 29 miles. It all depended on getting to somewhere to stay.

Did you choose to walk on roads, or footpaths?

I always walked on roads. These varied from country roads to B-roads and A-roads. I tried to take the safest, but also most reasonably direct route.

What kind of accommodation did you stay in along the way? How did this work out for you?

I stayed with friends quite often, which was really good, and in B&Bs and cheap hotels. Nearly everyone was really friendly. I came across a couple of grumpy people but no-one was ever nasty or unpleasant.

What were your favourite bits that you passed through, landscape-wise?

The best landscapes I saw were in North Yorkshire and in the Scottish Borders. The Borders are really different from other parts of Scotland and the Yorkshire Moors are worth seeing. I also saw some wonderful views near Wooler in Northumberland. Also, a few days into my journey I climbed a hill between Gifford and Duns in East Lothian. Here I saw the most amazing view that included the local area, the coast of the Forth, Edinburgh and the shores of Fife. Amazing!

And the worst bits?

Nowhere. This trip was all about being positive and not negative! Everywhere, and everything, has its good side!

Did you meet many people along the way? How did they react to you and what you were doing?

I met loads of people along the way, all sorts. Most people were very supportive of the Peace Day idea, what I was doing and the fact that I was doing something positive. It increased my belief in people and my belief in what I was doing, and my faith in the idea of International Peace Day. A lot of people used what I told them as a springboard to tell their own story which was really interesting. People told me of their beliefs and experiences. A couple of people told me about experiences of war in the army and of times when they had taken action to express what they believe in.

I did get the odd bit of abuse or extreme cynicism but I expected that.

Are there any incidents that particularly stick in your memory - funny or bizarre moments, strange encounters etc?

The most bizarre moment was when I watched the weather forecast near the end of my trip. Edinburgh and London were marked and it was so strange to think 'I’ve walked all that way!'

What would you say was the happiest moment of your trip?

It was brilliant when I got my first burst of media attention. Doing the interviews and having cars toot their horns as they went past was cool. It wasn’t the attention; it was the feeling that I’d succeeded in telling people about the UN International Peace Day! Other happy times were when I hooked up with friends along the way.

And the lowest point?

The lowest point was about a week into it when I had really bad blisters and there had been constant heavy rain!

Tell us about the end of your walk - that must have been a good day...

I was so happy on the last day, though it was weird. I crossed the Thames with my friends and family and finished at the Imperial War Museum. There were some photographers and I donated my flag to the museum with Mr Gimson’s obituary attached to it. And then, deservedly I think, I went to the pub and had a great night out!

Do you feel that your walk was successful in raising awareness of world issues, and of the UN International Day of Peace?

Definitely! I’ve told hundreds of people about the day and as long as one of them takes it in and believes in the day then I’ve planted a seed.

What are your thoughts about exploring the UK vs. exotic overseas travel? Would you recommend that other people get to know their own country instead of - or as well as - going to far-flung places?

I think that both are good. Obviously it’s more glamorous to go abroad but I hope that people realise how big and diverse the UK is! And if you want to have any opinions about the UK, or about the politics of the UK, then I definitely think that you must have seen and experienced what you’re talking about.

But, to me, what matters most is that people do some travelling, in the UK or abroad. It’s so important to realise that we all perceive the world differently but that we are all part of the same space. Through my walk, and also other travelling, I’ve learned about our differences, contradictions and complications but I’ve also experienced our common humanity. When we go away we always seem to make friends with local people or travelling partners from other places. This is because we realise that there are good people everywhere. To me that is what travelling is all about, realising how much better it is to get on with others than to judge and criticise.

This philosophy is of course the essence of peace...

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