'Constable Tom' celebrates 80th birthday... by walking 80 laps of football pitch

Wednesday 24 May 2023

A former Constable and stalwart of St. Peter FC is planning to walk 80 laps of the club's football pitch to mark his 80th birthday – and raise money as a thank you to Jersey Hospice for their care.

Tom du Feu served as Deputy and Constable for St. Peter and was made Life President of St. Peter FC after 34 years at the club's helm – and he now plans to top off the club's successful year with this two-week walking challenge.

Inspired by his namesake, the late 'Captain Tom', Tom is planning to walk four laps in the morning and four laps in the afternoon, Monday to Friday, for the two weeks before his birthday on Sunday 11 June. The challenge will see him cover a total of 16.8 miles.

Though he is himself suffering from stage four prostate cancer, he said that, medical appointments allowing, he would like to make this walk an annual tradition.

"I was wishing to do something that was going to be of benefit to the community generally, and I couldn't think of anything better than Jersey Hospice," he said.

The plan is for Tom to walk the final two laps of his challenge on Saturday 10 June – the day before his birthday – where he will be joined by family, friends and supporters to cheer him on in what he describes as "a little celebration". Tom credits his wife with doing "a really good job on invites".

Tom du Feu served the parish of St. Peter for 20 years as Deputy and Constable, as well as having been St. Peter Football Club's President for 34 years. He has been involved with the club since childhood, playing in the 1955 inter-vingtaine competition.

Pictured: Tom du Feu (centre) holding the Le Riche Cup final trophy in 2019, after St. Peter's victory over St. Paul's. (Rob Currie)

He stepped down in 2019 and was made life president - "an acknowledgement of outstanding service to the club over many years", he said.

Tom said he has done "every job that there was to do", from team manager to secretary, and serving as the club's president for 34 years. As President, he oversaw St. Peter's Jeremie Cup victory the first time they entered the competition, in 1976.

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'Constable Tom' has set himself the modest target of raising £800. At the time of writing, he is nearly half-way to his total.

You can donate to his 80-lap fundraiser in aid of Jersey Hospice Care by clicking HERE.

Pictured top: Tom du Feu, who is aiming to complete the fundraising 80-lap challenge as a thank you to Jersey Hospice in the two weeks before his birthday.(Daniel Andrade)