Milkman wants to be first man to jet ski from UK to Denmark, Teesdale Mercury

A BARNARD Castle milkman with a penchant for the tuba has walked on water in a bid to help keep a dale brass band afloat. 

And now Steve Graham, from Bishop Auckland, is set for an even bigger challenge – he wants to become one of the first men to travel from the UK to Denmark on water skis.

Late last month, Mr Graham strapped on his skis and took to the river at Tees Barrage, near Stockton on Tees, for a sponsored ten-hour marathon to raise hundreds of pounds that will help save Middleton and Teesdale Silver Band. 

Mr Graham has been playing the tuba with the band for over a year and decided to use his watery pastime to help pay for tuition, uniforms and the upkeep of instruments. 

Along with his friend Geoffrey Watson, Mr Graham braved the cold waters of the Teesside waterway last month, clocking up 150 miles between them, despite one of their boats breaking down. 

He said: “My face was stinging with the rain was a success – we’ve raised hundreds, maybe as much as a thousand. 

“I think it would be very sad if the band had to close down. I want to give the money I raise to the kids section because they are the future and they have shown such a big interest in the band.”

Mr Graham, who started the sport at the age of nine and was one of the first people to ski on Baldershead Reservoir in the 1970s, said the charity marathon is just a precursor to a bigger fundraising event he has planned for next year. 

The fit 50-year-old said: “We want to be the first people to water-ski from the UK to Denmark. 

“There is going to be four of us and we would ski 130 miles each in relay. We had wanted to do this year but we haven’t been able to sort a boat out in time.”

The part-time milkman said the ski across the North Sea will be a big fundraising drive and to enable him to get to his destination, he is also looking for any kind-hearted citizen to help provide a life. 

He said: “The problem this year has been we haven’t been able to get a boat. We need something that is big enough to take the four skiers on board, and their equipment, plus enough fuel to get there in one 

go.”

Money raised from the cold and rainy outing will go to the ever-growing pot of funds collected since the Mercury first featured the band’s financial plight. 

Mr Graham said: “When you have these little kids who are prepared to just turn up and give it a go, even though they might not be able to play brilliantly, we should be able to get them some music lessons so they can actually learn and get better.” 

Iain Brown, the secretary of Middleton and Teesdale Silver Band said: “I think it’s great what Steve’s done. I also think he a bit of a nutter but no, we’re really grateful. It’s fantastic of him.”

After turning more than 300 corners to complete the course of the Tees Barrage Mr Graham said: “I was scared stiff when I went out this morning because we had all our friends and family there watching us. 

“It’s going to go down as one of the best days of my life, which sounds crazy because it was freezing and I was in quite a bit of pain but I do feel I’ve achieved something.”

To watch Mr Graham skiing stunts go to YouTube.