FORMER Torquay Boys' Grammar School pupils Richard Rowe and Sam Gibbons-Frendo paid a fleeting visit to South Devon during their 1,000-mile cycle ride from John O'Groats to Lands End to raise money for charity.

The two friends, who used to live in Ashburton, made a welcome stopover in their old home town during the gruelling, 17-day ride through bad weather, sleeping in a tent apart from one night in bed and breakfast.

One of the first to greet the pair when they rode into Ashburton was Old Grammarian and former school friend Luke Webb, who kept in contact with them throughout the marathon ride.

Richard now lives in Bristol doing security work at music events and festivals while Sam works in Edinburgh, where he stayed after graduating from the city university. Many of their friends in South Devon were sponsors for the ride which raised money for the Alzheimers Research Trust and KWLT (Khanbahadur Lallbibi Welfare Trust), a small volunteer organisation rebuilding schools in a Pakistan village devastated by the 2005 earthquake.

Money can be donated on line at