12:20pm Sunday 14th March 2010
HE was nicknamed Mr India by his most famous pupil — Bolton comedian Peter Kay.
Now Paul Abbott, who taught at Mount St Joseph School, in Farnworth, is cycling 3,000 miles to the country where he used to live.
The retired teacher worked as a volunteer in India more than 30 years ago. When he returned to the UK he often told pupils stories about his time in India, leading Peter to label him Mr India in his autobiography, The Sound Of Laughter.
Paul, aged 52, who also taught Paddy McGuinness, said: “All teachers have traits that children are very quick to pick up on.
“I was probably guilty of harping on about India and the things I saw there. I certainly don’t mind the nickname.
“Peter was a good sort — a bit cheeky, but very funny.
“I couldn’t tell him off because he made me laugh too much.
“I remember saying to him that one day I’d have to pay to listen to him.”
The keen cyclist warmed up for his trip by biking from Land’s End to John O’Groats and back last year.
He set off from Manchester to Madurai, in Southern India, yesterday.
Paul, who lives in Manchester, will cycle 2,100 miles to Istanbul and will try to hitch a ride on a boat through the Suez Canal, the Gulf of Aden and across the Arabian Sea to Mumbai. He will cycle the final 900 miles to Madurai in sweltering temperatures.
Paul, who started teaching at Mount St Joseph in 1981, said: “By the time I get to India it will be May and I’ll be cycling in temperatures of more than 100F.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to it.”
He is raising money for Reaching The Unreached, which supports some of the poorest people in India. It’s work is wide-ranging, from running children’s homes to care for the elderly and getting medical supplies to people who cannot afford treatment.
His trip coincides with charity’s founder Brother James Kimpton’s 85th birthday, whom Paul worked with in India for three years.
To sponsor Paul go online to rtu.paulabbott.org.
steven.thompson@ theboltonnews.co.uk
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