Harry Bucknall
Harry Bucknall | |
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| Born | Harry Corfield Bucknall 27 November 1965 |
| Occupation | Retired Army Officer, Author |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Harrow School |
| Notable works | In the Dolphin's Wake, Like a Tramp Like a Pilgrim |
| Website | |
| www | |
Harry Bucknall (born 1965) is a British writer best known for books In the Dolphin's Wake and Like a Tramp Like a Pilgrim.[1][2] He drew inspiration for these books from several major trips he took throughout his life.[3] Bucknall has written for multiple newspapers and outlets, including The Spectator, The Scotsman, and Country Life.
Bucknall was educated at the Harrow School and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and served as an officer in the Coldstream Guards for 12 years.[4][5] He is the grandson of Lt Gen Gerard Bucknall and younger brother of James Bucknall. After retiring Bucknall set out on a 5,500 mile journey from Venice to Istanbul via 36 islands and every island chain in the Greek Archipelago.[6] It included 57 sea passages on 35 ferries, four landing craft, three hydrofoils, a fishing caique and a sea plane. The story of the trip became his first book, In the Dolphin's Wake.
In 2012 Bucknall embarked on another trip, where he walked 1,411 miles from London to Rome following the Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrim path.[7][8] The story of this journey, Like a Tramp Like a Pilgrim, was published by Bloomsbury Publishing in July 2014.[9][10][11]
In December 2014, Buckall and his former army driver Jock Davis, now a sergeant in the Metropolitan Police, walked 133 miles from Dorset to London in order to raise funds for homeless former servicemen and women.[12][13] A year later, they followed it up with a 335-mile walk from the Scottish borders to St Paul's Cathedral in London, following the journey made by George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle when he marched from Coldstream to London enabling the Restoration of King Charles II. Their 14-day walk raised £28,000 for homeless veterans.[14]
Bucknall was admitted as a Freeman of the City of London in 2015.[15]
His new book A Road for All Seasons, telling the story of his 6,518-mile journey across the length and breadth of Britain, will be published by Little Brown in August 2022.[16][17]
References
[edit]- ^ Finlayson, Ian. "Like a Tramp, Like a Pilgrim by Harry Bucknall". The Times. London. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "Actor Martin Sheen praises Dorset author Harry Bucknall's pilgrimmage book". Blackmore Vale. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "Harry Bucknall walks 1,411 mile pilgrimage". Daily Echo. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "Army commission". The London Gazette. No. 7 October 1985. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "Army retirement". The London Gazette. 4 March 1996. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ McCarthy, John. "Greek islands – Ireland by Kayak". BBC/Excess Baggage. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ Coles, Richard; Mir, Aasmah. "Katy Brand and Harry Bucknall". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ Balding, Clare. "Interview 17/08/2014". BBC Radio 2. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "As a pilgrim, you never walk alone". Church Times. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "After 1,411 miles, I'm still a Sinner". The Catholic Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "Harry Bucknall's pilgrimage". BBC Radio Bristol. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ Bolado, Catherine. "Former army officer to tackle epic walk in aid of homeless ex-servicemen". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "Harry Bucknall and Coldstream Guard comrade Jock Davis raise £13,500 for Walking with the Wounded". Blackmore Vale. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "Ex-army pair make it home for Christmas". Northern Echo. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
- ^ "List of Applications for the Freedom" (PDF). City of London. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ "My friend, travel writer and retired Coldstream Guards officer Harry Bucknall set off on his epic walk from Mull to Dover". Tan Twan Eng Facebook page. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ "A Road for all Seasons: From Mull to Dover". Waterstones. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
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