South East Walker March 2017

walkerSOUTH EAST No. 97 March 2017 Tributes paid to Berks path campaigner argaret Bowdery, who group and through numerous and taking a walk was difficult. in 1933 and grew up in leafy dedicated much of her campaigns and successes After working alone for a while to surroundings. Her father was a Mlife to protecting and became one of the country's improve the situation she called World War One fighter who became improving the footpaths of east most respected and tenacious a public meeting which led to the headmaster of the local boy's school Berkshire, died on 4 November champions of rights of way. formation of an active local group and had a fearsome reputation for 2016, aged 83. For 43 years After moving to Maidenhead in to clear and waymark local paths, a discipline. she served as Footpath Secretary 1964 Margaret soon found that group which developed into the very Known by her school friends as to the East Berks Ramblers the local paths were in a poor state successful East Berks Ramblers. Tops, Margaret went to Gumley She was awarded the MBE in House, a strict convent school in 2006 for services to walking and met lsleworth; they ate in complete Margaret Bowdery on her 'retirement' the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh silence and the girls developed as local Footpath Secretary in 2014. Inquiry opens into at a reception in Windsor Castle in their own sign language. Her first Photo: Dave Ramm 2010 given for those involved with job was at Heston aerodrome, in a and she would escape to the hills work in rural communities. Nissen hut. Fiercely independent every weekend with a small group Harrow School's Cllr Simon Dudley, Leader of she bought a Lambretta scooter as of friends. In 1963 she met a sales Royal Borough of Windsor and soon as she could afford it. Then manager, Bernard Bowdery. He blocked paths Maidenhead Council told the she got a job as a sales director in was working in the same office Maidenhead Advertiser: "Margaret Knightsbridge. Her father forbade where fraternising was taboo and so s SEW went to press the edge of the rugby pitches. worked closely with many council her from riding her scooter to work, their romance was kept secret. a public inquiry was The London Borough of officers and members over the but she defied him, much to his They were engaged on 26 May A due to open into the Harrow made the orders in 2013. years in her pursuit of improving fury. 1963 at 15.37 hours, Ordnance diversion of blocked paths on Both diversions are less direct access in the local countryside. Although we associate Margaret Survey sheet 158, grid reference 621 Harrow School grounds. and therefore longer with inferior Her enthusiasm and encyclopaedic with paths and walking, her passion 793 (Margaret had immense The Ramblers Buckinghamshire, views of Harrow-on-the-Hill knowledge of the local path was climbing and the mountains, Continued on page 2 Milton Keynes and West with its impressive church, and network was unparalleled and her Middlesex Area has long been of the city. The Ramblers, Open valuable contribution to making concerned that the school had Spaces Society and local residents the borough's footpaths and built tennis courts across Footpath objected to the orders and will countryside accessible to residents 57, a popular path which runs appear at the public inquiry. The and visitors will live on as her south to north between Pebworth school has unlocked the gates legacy." Road and Football Lane and across Footpath 57 and the path Kate Ashbrook, President of the thence to Harrow-on-the-Hill. is at last largely unobstructed; Ramblers, writes: It also erected locked gates across the objectors claim that any You wouldn't have thought the the footpath. Belatedly, and remaining obstructions are countryside around Maidenhead after our threat of legal action, 'temporary circumstances' which could be bandit country - but it the school applied to divert the inspector is required to ignore was when Margaret Bowdery first the footpath around the tennis when comparing the definitive moved there; the state of the paths courts. Of course it should have routes with the diversions. was awful. So she became involved done this when it got planning We deplore the school's abuse in trying to get them reopened and permission for the development. of public rights of way and hope as a result she led the East Berkshire It also proposes to move Footpath to prevent them from being Ramblers' public-path work for 58, which runs in a straight line shifted just to suit the school's more than 40 years. Margaret with Maidenhead MP, Theresa May, at the official opening in 2005 of the path between Watford Road on the convenience. Margaret was born in Ealing under the A404 Marlow by-pass, known as the 'Bowdery Archway'. Photo: Dave Ramm east and Football Lane, around Kate Ashbrook Dover welcomes walkers over was launched walkers are maintained, whyteboard.co.uk - was unveiled. as a Walkers are improved and well signposted; Former Dover mayor Pam DWelcome town on contributing to local tourism Brivio, a member of White Cliffs 1 February. plans and regeneration strategies; Ramblers and Dover's Walkers The town received promoting the health benefits of are Welcome steering group accreditation last year having walking; and encouraging the coordinator, said: 'The new met strict criteria. This includes use of public transport. The website will be showcased with demonstrating how local people launch was held in Dover town links to walking opportunities, and visitors are offered excellent hall where the town's Walkers where to stay, transport, and walking opportunities: ensuring are Welcome website - http:// details of restaurants, licensed Harrow School's tennis courts were built over Footpath 57. Photo: Kate Ashbrook footpaths and facilities for doverwalkersarewelcome. premises etc.' 2 South East Walker March 2017 Lottery winner eckenham Place Park in south east London is to be restored Band 'revitalised' following the Heritage Lottery Fund's approval in November of proposals by the London Borough of Lewisham and a £4.7 million award. The plans include the restoration of the Georgian lake and elements of the historic landscape and a new cafe in the restored stables. The park was originally the grounds of the Grade II* listed Palladian-style mansion house, home to timber wharf merchant John Cator. Continued from page 1 The River Thames has always been an Cookham Bridge was closed by the Thames important feature of this area, and particularly Conservancy, Margaret succeeded in getting Dave Ramm, who knew Margaret attention to detail). The spot is just above for walkers. The Thames Path was being an order to add the path to the map although, for many years, adds: Goring in Oxfordshire. They married in 1964 developed by David Sharp, the Rambler who due to council bungling, 3.7 metres of the Margaret's first venture into and moved to their new house in Maidenhead devoted much of his life to this cause, and a route was missed off. This was disputed by footpath improvements began when later that year; they knew the area having spent footbridge was badly needed at Temple, near the Ferryboat Inn and it took her another she was unable even to use those many weekends walking in Cookham and Marlow, to replace the ferry which ceased in seven years to get this short stretch added. She paths next to where she lived in Marlow. the 1950s. Margaret ran the 'Golden Boot' gathered paintings from the Stanley Spencer Maidenhead. If they were not in And that is when Margaret discovered that appeal to raise over £2,000 and Central Office gallery, including 'Christ preaching to the such a terrible state she felt sure that the paths were in a terrible state: overgrown, gave £7,000. The bridge was completed in crowds at Cookham Regatta', to prove that others would also enjoy using them. ploughed, cropped and blocked with no May 1989, opening up 16 miles of Thames there was never a 'No right of way' sign at the And so the die was cast - the year signposts or waymarks. She was told by a Path. Ferryboat Inn. The path takes people off the 1964. Berkshire County Council officer that he The Ramblers used to have an annual dangerous A4094 road. Margaret's efforts After calling a meeting to 'Save thought all public rights of way should be Forbidden Britain Day to highlight local must have saved walkers from death and injury. Our Paths', a committee was formed. extinguished as they were not needed for access issues. In 1989 East Berks Ramblers There is one outstanding battle, to get the A paragraph from the group's first public use. That was red rag to a bull! focused on Thames Water's refusal of access Thames Path to run beside the river north newsletter gives some idea of the Ramblers are strongest when there is a strong on a bridge to Sashes Island near Cookham. of Maidenhead bridge and Bridge Gardens situation at the time: 'Long Lane was local presence able to work with the national This ferry had ceased running to Cliveden in instead of along the rat-run Ray Mead badly overgrown but despite the heat body. And so in 1970 Margaret called a public 1956. On Forbidden Britain Day Margaret Road. Even Margaret could not overcome (it was late August) it was effectively meeting to 'save our paths'. Over 100 people organised 30 members to be rowed across the the determination of property owners and cleared of nettles.

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