Sutton hosted a festival called “Move it at the Manor” today. Helping to promote Smarter Travel Sutton, the project to encourage people out of their cars, the event had an impressive centre piece of town centre cycle races. Less impressive was the filler in the sandwich that was the Councillors’ race. Four councillors and one guest celebrity, Castaway’s Ben Fogle, cycled down St Nicholas Way and up the High Street which had been cordoned off.

It was only when I was in some discomfort chasing Ben Fogle up the hill that I remembered that he had recently rowed naked across the Atlantic. Therefore although fully clothed this time, he was very fit. It was little surprise that he won.

It was tremendous fun for a good cause although my daughter immediately commandered my medal when I got home. Unicyclists, plenty of stalls, treasure hunts and Caribbean food entertained the good turnout on one of the few sunny days of the summer. After we had departed the cycling course wheezing, the professionals showed the crowd how to do it with one of the Women’s Road Race Series tearing up and down Sutton for a whole hour. I’m glad I managed to finish the one 5 minute lap.