 |
St Thomas The Martyr Parish Church Up Holland, Lancashire |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Nick Daunt, Ray Swift and six other church members are walking from London to Canterbury this week to raise funds for various causes. The walk started in London on Monday and will finish on the Saturday, all being well, with everyone arriving at Canterbury Cathedral for Evensong at 3.15pm!
Day
1: Monday 23rd - Southwark Cathedral to Chislehurst
Day 2: Tuesday 24th - Chislehurst to Otford
Day 3: Wednesday 25th - Otford to Aylesford
Day
4: Thursday 26th - Aylesford to Lenham
Day 5: Friday 27th - Lenham to Chilham
Day 6: Saturday 28th - Chilham to Canterbury Cathedral!
Day
1: Monday 23rd July - Southwark Cathedral to Chislehurst
Here's
a report from Nick Daunt.....
"Hello everyone in Up Holland from the walkers. We set off today
at 10am from Southwark Cathedral and walked to Chislehurst, which was
about 12 miles. The weather was fair, but the main thing was that it didn't
rain... until we arrived at Chislehurst! We took it steady, averaging
about 3 miles per hour, and had our lunch in a graveyard in South London!
We arrived in Chislehurst just after 3pm and were being put up by various
kind parishioners of the Church of The Annunciation - they fed us and
looked after us very well, with the special treat of welcoming us with
toasted teacake and lots of tea!. We celebrated Evening Prayer with them
and then went off to our respective hosts to enjoy our first night of
rest.
Everyone is in good spirits with no injuries. Helen Lems has joined us
for the trip, but has to drop out tomorrow as she has a interview. She
will be back with us on Wednesday for the rest of the walk."
Church of The Annunciation, Chislehurst
Day
2: Tuesday 24th July - Chislehurst to Otford
Nick reports in......
"This morning we had Mass in the church, following which they treated
us to a lovely, big breakfast at the Parish Hall. Today we left Chislehurst
and set out to Otford in Kent. I am speaking to you at about 4.30pm and
we have just arrived. Otford is just on the Pilgrim's Way. It has been
a lovely day today - hot and sunny. We have come down the Darent Valley
Way, which is a beautiful part of Kentish countryside. Having just arrived
in Otford and the weather being great, we have just had to take the opportunity
to sample one of Otford's beer gardens!
Tonight David, Sally and I are stopping at David's Aunt's house, and the
rest of the gang will be at a Bed and Breakfast in Sevenoaks, which is
only a couple of miles away. We are all out for an Italian meal tonight.
Tomorrow we are walking to Aylesford, and when we get there we will be
exactly halfway - we have done about 26 miles so far in the first two
days. There are a few blisters appearing but we have a plentiful supply
of plasters, so we are ready for tomorrow which happens to be the longest
stretch at 15 miles. We are also looking forward to Helen rejoining us
tomorrow - she has promised to take a day off next week to cover the parts
she missed today!"
Day
3: Wednesday 25th - Otford to Aylesford
5.38pm in the diary room and Nick reported in.....
"We've just arrived in Aylesford after the longest leg of the week
- 15 miles. We are just over half way on the journey. We set off from
Otford at about 10.15am this morning, which was a bit later than we had
done on previous days because we were spilt up between Otford and Sevenoaks
for our accomodation last night. Helen joined us again today, having arrived
by train. We climbed up on to the North Downs Way and stopped at a pub
for lunch in Wrotham, pronounced 'Root'em'. The weather has been fine,
with only a few spots of rain as we were approaching Aylesford. We are
all feeling tired but in good spirits! We are being put up by the parishioners
of St Peter and St Paul in Aylesford this evening, and looking forward
to starting the second half of the journey from here to Lenham tomorrow.
The team all send their best wishes back to Up Holland!"
Church of
St Peter and St Paul, Aylesford, Kent
Day
4: Thursday 26th - Aylesford to Lenham
Webmaster
Ian reports in...
"I received a text from Nick at 5.55pm saying that they had arrived
safely at Lenham, but I happened to be on a high speed train from Birmingham
to Wigan at the time with no mobile signal to speak of. When I called
back at 7pm and a few times afterwards, I can only get the answerphone
so they are either in an area with no signal...or are in the pub!
If I don't hear tonight, I shall report on this leg of the journey tomorrow
evening. At least they are OK!"
Day
5: Friday 27th - Lenham to Chilham
Webmaster
Ian reports in once more...
"Unfortunately I have not heard from Nick and the gang today. I tried
to contact them but as at 9.45pm I have had no reply. All I can assume
is that no news is good news! We are travelling down to Kent tomorrow
so that will be the end of the week's reports. However come back in mid
August and we hope to have some photos to show you."
Some of the walkers (from L to R): Nick Daunt, Michael Blinston, Bil Robinson, Martin Starkie, Ray Swift, Sally Daunt (support vehicle driver). This was taken outside St Thomas's just before they set off to London.