A former mayor who rowed across the Atlantic has sold off her home to repay debts incurred by her daring adventure.

Intrepid mother and son Jan Meek and Daniel Byles, 23, of Chipping Norton, spent 101 days at sea in a 23ft long rowing boat.

The duo successfully rowed 2,900 miles across the ocean from Tenerife to Barbados as one of 30 crews taking part in the longest rowing race ever staged by Sir Chay Blyth.

They spent 100 days, 18 hours and 57 minutes battling the waves in their boat Carpe Diem, Latin for 'Seize the Day'.

Chipping Norton rolled out the red carpet when they returned just over a year ago with an open-top bus ride around the town.

Mrs Meek, 54, had to raise £70,000 to compete in the race and returned to debts of £30,000.

She lived in Middle Row, but had bought and done up a property in Rock Hill.

She said: "I owned the cottage outright and I had to sell it to pay off my debts. I bought it for my retirement. It was quite run down and I did it up nicely.

"The race was definitely worth it. If someone had told me beforehand that it would cost £70,000, I wouldn't have done it but how do you qualify the adventure of a lifetime."

Mrs Meek is now living in London and travelling around the country giving after dinner speeches about her adventure.

Just before Christmas she went on an eight-day cruise on the QE2 to Tenerife to give talks on her experience of rowing the Atlantic.

She said: "I really miss Chipping Norton. You don't realise how beautiful it is until you go.

"But I have not cut all ties with the town and I think I will come back one day," she added.

Story date: Saturday 20 February

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