THEY cycled for six hours a day from Oxford to the south of France and back in all weathers - but three former Magdalen College School pupils say it was worth every mile.

Oliver Martin-Robinson, Hal Munby and Camilo Stargardter rode the 2,500km to Biarritz and back as a fundraising trip in memory of teacher David Brunton.

Dr Brunton, who was head of media studies at the school in Cowley Place, Oxford, died in March after falling from the top of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin in the city's High Street.

He had been suffering from a bipolar depressive condition.

The boys hope to raise £10,000 for the David Brunton Memorial Bursary, which his widow Jenny Liddiard set up just weeks after his death.

The three set off in August and after a month away - which included 24 days of cycling at least 120km a day - they returned to Oxford pleased with their efforts.

Mr Stargardter, who is due to start a degree in medicine at Bristol University soon, said: "The ride was full of highs and lows.

"At times we felt like we would never do it, especially when it seemed as though we were faced with incline after incline in adverse weather, but things would soon brighten up when we were zooming downhill again."

The trio set off from their former school in early August and cycled to Portsmouth to catch a ferry to Caen. They then made their way to Biarritz and it was when they were nearing this halfway point that they encountered their toughest times.

"The final four days cycling to Biarritz were tough," said Mr Stargardter, 18. "We were under pressure to get there in time and once there had planned four days of fun enjoying the sun, surf and beach, but it didn't stop raining for our entire stay."

The trip was not without its incidents either. Mr Martin-Robinson was knocked off his bike by a caravan and Mr Munby's back tyre exploded.

"We've all made it back in one piece though," said Mr Stargardter.

"We also had plenty of time to reminisce about our schooldays and talk about our memories of Dr Brunton."

The men said their former teacher had been a popular figure at the school, adding: "He taught all of us and was a brilliant teacher.

"He contributed so much of his life to the school and his legacy lives on in each of us."

  • To donate money, email development@mcsoxford.org