OTFORD conductor Harry Christophers swapped his baton for walking boots to raise tens of thousands of pounds for charity.

Mr Christophers led a 105-mile pilgrimage of fellow members of internationally renowned The Sixteen choir from Guildford Cathedral to Canterbury.

WEARY: The Sixteen choir walkers stop at Otford on the way to Canterbury, with Harry Christophers, far left LD2907101_1

Six of the London-based choir undertook the whole five-day expedition while others joined part of the route, or met the party at Canterbury Cathedral at the end of the journey on Monday.

Mr Christophers, 56, of Coombe Road, said: "It's difficult for people with jobs or young children but the support has been fantastic.

"For me, the best thing was being able to see all those things you see when driving around the M25, but up close.

"The motorway makes such a racket though."

The group followed the North Downs Way, but reverted to maps when cheeky locals tried to divert them.

Mr Christophers said: "In Westerham, a sign had been moved – not just turned the other way but moved to a different post.

"We started crossing this field before realising it couldn't be the right way as we were heading towards Chevening."

Eventually the walkers made it to Otford last Wednesday and enjoyed a few pints of Westerham Ale at The Crown before staying at Mr Christophers' house.

"It made a nice change from bed and breakfasts, except we had to clear everything away before we left," added Mr Christophers, who is married with four children.

Last Thursday they moved on to the Medway bridge via Kemsing and Wrotham.

"That 20-mile day was the longest trip," he said.

"We only walked about three miles an hour. It was great to enjoy different people's company and to not have to sing all day."

Counter tenor singer Christopher Royall added: "If I hadn't become a singer I probably would have been a geography teacher or an outward bound instructor.

"This walk took us to some places of pilgrimage in my life – a pub I used to drink in my early days, Rochester Cathedral where I was a chorister and to my hometown of Boughton Aluph," he added.

The party, with support from Classic FM and patron Joanna Lumley, is hoping to raise £50,000 for World Vision and the Save Canterbury Cathedral campaign.

The expedition marked the 10th anniversary of the choir, which is this summer performing at 26 churches and cathedrals from Edinburgh to Brighton.