Man, 80, hitchikes 10,000 miles to scatter wife's ashes

An 80-year-old man hitchhiked for 10,000 miles to scatter his wife's ashes.

An 80-year-old man hitchhiked for 10,000 miles to scatter his wife's ashes.

Mike Howitt travelled through 21 countries from his home in Leicester, central England, to Cape Town, South Africa to fulfil his beloved late wife Diana's wishes and scatter her ashes on Table Mountain.

Diana and Mike - who had been married for 55 years - visited South Africa 25 times.

He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Diana loved Table Mountain. We spent anniversaries in South Africa and loved the country.

"From the day I set off down the A47 from Leicester to the day I got to Cape Town, I never felt in danger.

"In Kenya I spent 22 hours on a cattle truck. When we crossed the equator they stopped for me and I was able to scatter some of Diana's ashes there, too."

Mike's efforts also raised £6,000 for the Loros hospice, where Diana stayed in the days leading up to her death from lung disease in 2011.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

National Risk Assessment for Ireland Medicine-resistant infections the biggest risk facing Ireland, experts warn
Record level of children and adults in emergency accommodation Record level of children and adults in emergency accommodation
'Very high likelihood' of further cyberattacks on Irish IT systems 'Very high likelihood' of further cyberattacks on Irish IT systems
War_map
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited