Johnny 'The Lips' Starling

Brilliant news. Out for beers with lads from university last night, chatting about my imminent LEJOG, and my old friend John is up for joining me. He's between jobs and was looking to do something similar anyway. Although I'd always been more than happy to do this trip solo, this comes as quite a relief. Alison's especially pleased. John and I have known each other for about 20 years, being on the same course (Mechanical Engineering) at Imperial College. Played rugby there together and made up half of a 'jazz' band called The Bare Necessities, me on drums and John hogging the limelight with his singing and trumpet playing (hence 'The Lips'). With Ian on Piano and Aidan on Clarinet, we 'rocked' the student unions with the likes of Fats Wallers Eb Blues and some homemade tunes (courtesy of Ian) like the Stockwell Samba and the aptly named (by the rest of us) Strangely Repetitive. After uni, when we both had young families, John and I also holidayed in Hossegor, SW France. A more calm, witty and likeable chap you're unlikely to meet and I've no doubt we'll have a great time together.