Chris Willmott takes on the ‘Quandeltocht’
Taxi Charity ambassador and Parachute Regiment veteran Chris Willmott is no stranger to a challenge, but during the 79th Airborne Wandeltocht he took on something truly extraordinary.
Chris set himself the challenge of completing a ‘Quandeltocht’ – his own name for the challenge – by walking all four available distances of the famous Airborne Wandeltocht within 24 hours.
Setting off in drizzling rain, Chris began with the 40km route before continuing through the night to complete the 25km course, followed by the 15km and finally the 10km route.
His friend, Erny van Wijk, kept Taxi Charity supporters updated throughout the challenge, posting on Facebook as Chris set off:
“Chris Willmott has left for his Quandeltocht in the drizzling rain. He will be walking all four distances of the Airborne Wandeltocht within 24 hours. Starting with the 40km. It means he will walk through the night and finish tomorrow during the 79th Airborne Wandeltocht.”
And walk through the night he did.
Chris spent a little over 20 hours on his feet, covering an incredible 54.86 miles at an average pace of 22.14 minutes per mile. Along the way, he burned an astonishing 4,848 calories.
The Airborne Wandeltocht is a very special event for the Taxi Charity family, bringing together veterans, supporters and friends to remember the courage and sacrifice of those who fought during the Battle of Arnhem and Operation Market Garden.
Chris’ determination to take on all four distances made his challenge even more remarkable. While thousands of people proudly complete one of the routes, Chris simply kept going throughout the night and into the following day.
As a Parachute Regiment veteran and proud ambassador for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, Chris’ incredible effort was an inspiring demonstration of endurance, determination and commitment.
Erny van Wijk said: “Completing the Airborne Quandeltocht was Chris’ idea from the outset, and what makes his achievement so remarkable is that he is the only person to have taken on this challenge. It was a unique occasion and I think something that will probably remain a one-off.
“Chris set himself an extraordinary personal challenge, and I was incredibly proud to be there to support him as he completed it.”
Colin Mills, London cab driver and chairman of the Taxi Charity, said: “Chris has an extraordinary ability to set himself a challenge and then simply refuse to give up until he has achieved it. His Quandeltocht is a remarkable addition to what is already an incredible list of challenges he has undertaken in support of the Taxi Charity and the veterans we serve.
“In 2022, Chris and Seb Philp cycled 115km on WWII Airborne folding bikes before walking the 40km Wandeltocht carrying 35lb bergen rucksacks. Last year, Chris took on an extraordinary 859-mile journey from Auschwitz to Arnhem on an 80-year-old single-speed bicycle, retracing a route through Poland, Germany and the Netherlands and connecting two places with such profound significance to the history of the Second World War.
“Now he has taken on the Quandeltocht, walking all four distances of the Airborne Wandeltocht within 24 hours. To spend more than 20 hours on his feet and cover almost 55 miles is an extraordinary feat of endurance, but what makes Chris’ challenges particularly special is the thought and meaning behind them. He doesn’t just set out to achieve a physical goal; he uses these challenges to remember those who served, to honour the history that matters so much to him and to support today’s veterans.
“Chris has been a wonderful ambassador for the Taxi Charity since 2024, and we are immensely proud of everything he does for our veterans and our charity. His determination, commitment and sheer resilience are an inspiration. I hope Chris will take a well-earned rest now – although knowing him, I suspect he may already be thinking about his next challenge!”
Everyone at the Taxi Charity sends huge congratulations to Chris on completing his Quandeltocht. We are incredibly proud to have him as part of the Taxi Charity family.
Well done, Chris - what an extraordinary achievement!
Photos courtesy of Erny van Wijk
Chris Willmott served with 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment between 1977 and 1981, and again between 2010 and 2011. He also served with 289 commando battery Royal Artillery between 1988 and 1996.
In 2017, Chris was asked to assist the Taxi Charity to support Arthur Letchford, a WWII veteran who had also served with the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment, on a small trip to Arnhem. Both Chris and Arthur belonged to the same Parachute Regiment Association branch, and as Arthur’s usual companions were unavailable for this trip, Chris was delighted to step in.
Since that first trip, Chris has regularly been to Wageningen in May, Normandy in June and Arnhem in September.
