For most of the 1990s, Thames Water Engineering  put on a Christmas Pantomime – to raise money for local charities in Reading. Humphrey was born, or rather – brought into existence – for the 1995 production of Aladdin. So the whole thing began when Jeff Farrow persuaded Paul Nash to join him in becoming Humphrey.

Having agreed to suffer inside Humphrey on stage – Paul immediately got his revenge – by entering Humphrey into the 1996 London Marathon. The now famous camel made the switch from acting to athletics and his ‘Running-for-WaterAid’ career began. 

In this photo David Holland (AKA Aladdin’s wicked uncle) may be trying to explain some finer points of project planning to a somewhat reluctant Humphrey

This was taken outside Gainsborough House – all three still able to smile for the camera – so it must have been before their first marathon outing.

 

And some brief reminiscences – such as the time that Paul was clipped by a car on Jamaica Road (how can a driver not see a big bright-orange camel?) – Jeff learning a whole new ‘motivational’ vocabulary (in a Derbyshire accent) from Paul over the course of completing their five consecutive marathons – (it has to be said that without Paul’s inspiration and determination Humphrey would probably never have completed even one marathon) – the year when Gerry Greene and Paul McMahon waited for Humphrey in a pub near the Tower – then couldn’t keep up with him and had to hail a taxi to get to the finish – Rose, as Humphrey’s belly dancer, running up and down the lines of spectators, covering several extra miles to collect and carry bucket-fulls of coins – of being among the late-finishers (he’s not built for speed) – behind the athletes and fun-runners seen on TV – among the people who are running for charity often despite age, injuries and difficulties – reaching each mile-station at the same time as the people who are dismantling them – with the main aim of getting to the finish while it’s still daylight!!!!