We are
Martin and Lizzy
We live in Bude, North Cornwall, in a little house near the sea. We surf, swim, cycle and love to travel.
Martin Dorey
I am a surfer, writer and environmentalist. I write books about camping, campervanning and environmentalism. I absolutely love being on my bike and going surfing and it’s what drives me to be better, fitter and less afraid. I have lived in the West Country since I was in my twenties after escaping London. I have travelled to Europe to surf many times over the years, mostly in campervans. Surfing has been my guiding light for many years, and the source of so much joy and happiness. Most of the decisions I have made in my life have been influenced by the pull of the ocean - work, house, lifestyle - and this has led me to now.
I started writing books in 2009 and have written quite a few now, including the Take the Slow Road series and the Kids Fight series. I am very proud of No. More. Plastic., a book that came about as a result of my work on the #2minutebeachclean project. In 2023 I was awarded an MBE for services to the environment.
I passed my cycling proficiency in 1976. It’s a lifetime award.
I have two amazing daughters, Maggie and Charlie, who are both at Uni studying Fine Art and Costume, respectively.
Lizzy Kay
Lizzy is a botanist and gardener, with a doctorate in seaweed. She’s an athlete, cyclist, surfer and wild swimmer. She has cycled the length of Argentina, over the Andes (twice), through Norway in winter and all across Europe. She was a world champion surf lifesaver in 2016, winning the women’s board rescue event, and has won the British Ocean Woman title twice. Lizzy learnt to surf when she was 50 as part of a change of life and took up surf life saving when her children joined Nippers. She couldn’t sit on the beach watching so got involved.
She really is quite remarkable, but she wouldn’t shout about it.
Lizzy has two grown up sons, Raef and Lyle. Raef works for a global IT company and Lyle is at Uni studying biochemistry. Lizzy cared for her severely disabled daughter, Poppy, until her death, age 5, in 2004.
Lizzy is a superwoman.
(written by Martin)