Kevin Dutton is a professor of psychology and best-selling author of several books, including the Wisdom of Psychopaths and The Good Psychopaths Guide to Success (with Andy McNab). Described by Sir Ranulph Fiennes as a “Special Forces style psychologist” Kevin is a renowned intellectual adventurer and entertaining speaker. He is also slightly mad.

Kevin does strange things at times. In 2021, to raise awareness of homelessness in London, he undertook the Metro-Marathon Challenge with GB rower John Collins, which saw them run all 315 stations of the London Underground - and, in so doing, become the first people in history to run the entire length of a major city metro system non-stop. They slept rough every night and, at the end of their 350-mile journey, took on the London Marathon. Understandably, on crossing the finish line, they thought they’d completed the challenge – only to discover that, since they’d been on the road, TFL had taken it upon themselves to open two new stations (Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms) which despatched them back over Chelsea bridge rather than the pub.

In his spare time, Kevin co-hosts the podcast Psycho Schizo Espresso (soon to be re-released) with Iron Maiden lead singer, Bruce Dickinson.

Despite living as far from the sea as possible, in West Oxfordshire, Kevin conceived of the idea of the TRUE South-North of the British Isles and persuaded a trio of inscrutable unsuitables - Billy, Patrick, and Gary - to join him in this epic row and cycle.

He’s the team leader and hopes that they can use the challenge to create a national celebration of young people’s resilience and mental health.

Anyone who thinks fire and water don’t mix should meet Billy Taylor. Billy is a former fireman and paramedic who was captivated by ocean rowing in 2014 when he rowed from California to Hawaii as a last-minute substitute in a crew of four. This experience of being trapped in a tiny boat with three sweaty men for several weeks left a lasting impression on him and he’s not looked back since. In 2018, Billy rowed from Australia to Mauritius with one sweaty man from the previous crew, along with two others, one of whom had Parkinson’s Disease. The data they collected on the impact of exercise on the symptoms of Parkinson’s led to a ground-breaking project in Oxford Brooks University, who encouraged him to do another row with a crew member with Parkinson’s to continue the research. And so, a third row took place in 2020, with one sweaty man joining Billy and two “slightly” sweaty ladies as they made their way from the Canary Islands to Antigua, via Cape Verde. In 2021, he returned to cross the Atlantic for a second time with a crew of four. This time the focus was on raising funds for mental health - and research into sweat reduction.

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All in all, Billy has rowed over 12,000 miles across various oceans and is excited to join Kevin, Patrick and Gary for the South North adventure in support of young people’s mental health. He is the skipper for the rowing sections of the expedition.

Patrick Neale recently stopped playing rugby for his local club and is delighted to join the team for the South North Adventure. Like Kevin, he lives in one of England’s most landlocked counties, West Oxfordshire, which is just one of the reasons why he’s never rowed. Until now.

Having worked in book retailing since 1988, Patrick is passionate about giving every child the best start and opportunity in life and understands how challenging modern life can be for kids from all backgrounds.

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A Farmer’s son, still proudly milking cows, he owns an independent bookshop in the Cotswolds with his partner Polly. “This adventure marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life,” he says, without the slightest hint of irony.

Gary Robert Hutchings is an accomplished ocean rower known for his adventurous spirit and remarkable feats in endurance rowing. He gained recognition for his amazing attempt to row across the Atlantic Ocean solo showcasing not only physical strength but also mental resilience. Just this year, Gary has participated in various challenges hiking to Everest base camp and Mount Olympus demonstrating his commitment to pushing the limits of human capability.

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He’s a keen rugby player/supporter and misses the team spirit so is very excited for the challenge ahead.

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His journeys often have raised awareness for important causes, such as environmental conservation and mental health. His contributions to sport and his advocacy for meaningful issues make him a notable figure in his local community. Through his expeditions, Gary hopes to inspire others to embrace adventure and pursue their passions, regardless of the obstacles they may face. Therefore, the aims of the South North Adventure to highlight the importance of resilience in young people appeals to him.