‘Highest man in Africa’ releases book

Gary Mobsby’s attempt to hitch-hike around the world on two weeks wages has been bound into the story Itchy Feet.

But the intrepid explorer has not been promoting his book in a conventional way.

He said: “I have followed a theme which was started - purely as a joke - many years ago when I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, with a ladder.

“This, I erected on the peak which allowed me to become the highest ever man in history in Africa! This made several papers and the radio at the time.

“And so when I was ready to bring my book out, it seemed a logical idea to continue with this theme.

“Last month I climbed all four of the UK’s highest peaks in consecutive days with a rather bigger ladder, carrying 23kg in total.

“As far as I am aware, I have now been higher than anyone else in history on all four peaks of the UK in consecutive days. These are: Snowdon in Wales, Sca Fell in England, Scotland’s Ben Nevis and Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland.”

The travel book, which follows Gary’s journey from Covent Garden to Colombo, was launched in at the Chatsworth Hotel in Worthing on November 6.

This Saturday (November 19) the author - whose father was Horsham Football Club’s legendary Roy ‘Cogger’ Mobsby for 20 years - will return to his home town for a book signing at Waterstones in the town centre from 10am to 5.30pm.

Gary describes his work as ‘very anecdotal, hopefully humorous but, above all, extremely honest.’

He added: “I’ve always been passionate about seeing the world, it’s wildlife and it’s peoples, and have travelled fairly extensively over the past 30 years - even starting up my own travel company eight years ago, guiding groups around Peru, Argentina, Tanzania and NZ.

“I continue to travel both alone and have spent several years on the world’s great rivers, walking through jungles and finding new routes in mountainous regions with the aid of map and compass.

“When I’m not travelling I spend my time either singing and dancing or playing sport - I’m a keen ex-footballer having organised and played in matches in over 30 counties.”