TWO law professors will be swapping their Oxford college quads for the Yorkshire Dales this week when they try to cycle the first leg of the Tour de France.

Ian Loader, 49, and Guy Goodwin-Gill, 67, of All Souls College are taking part in the 191km starting section of the bike race, which kicks off in Leeds.

They are raising money for the Mines Advisory Group, which works to clear mines in former war zones, and have so far raised more than £1,200.

Prof Goodwin-Gill’s reason for supporting the charity is a personal one. His father saw action in both world wars and died on his son’s first birthday – Christmas Day, 1947.

He said his father, Walter Booth Goodwin, signed up in September 1914 and served with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in France from May 1916.

He said: “He was recommended for the Military Cross in July that year, and was awarded it later for his actions during the Battle of Ypres (‘Third Ypres’) in October 1917.

“He suffered gunshot wounds, was evacuated to England, but was back in the front line in June 1918, having fortunately missed the spring offensive.

“In 1940 he was with the Pioneer Corps in Palestine. This time it was rheumatic fever that took him back to the UK, eventually to run a prisoner of war camp in East Anglia.

“Two wars was too many, and he died on my first birthday, Christmas Day 1947.”.

See justgiving.com/Guy-S-Goodwin-Gill and justgiving.com/Ian-Loader

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