SOUTH EAST No. 89 March 2015 Strangewalker case of the missing boardwalk Ramblers honour Bucks path champion he Buckinghamshire, he made massive improvements. Milton Keynes and Under his leadership the county’s TWest Middlesex Area of paths were transformed - in the the Ramblers has honoured the past walking in the less-trodden work of Mike Walker, former north Bucks was like negotiating Environment Group Manager an assault course, now the paths for Buckinghamshire County are in far better condition. It Council, with a commemorative is sad for all of us that Mike has gate on a footpath at Great retired from the council but we Missenden. are pleased he is still involved on Mike, who retired last year, national committees, promoting managed Buckinghamshire’s public paths and their value to the network of public rights of way public. We all have much to thank for 30 years. The Ramblers’ have him for, in making conditions celebrated Mike’s work with a for walkers, riders and cyclists in gate under the Chiltern Society’s Bucks so much better.’ ‘donate a gate’ scheme, on Great Says Mike: ‘I am truly honoured At the scene of the crime: (left to right) Eugene Suggett, Jonathan Lord MP and Brian Reader. Photo: John Plympton Missenden footpath 51. The that the Ramblers and Chiltern hen Surrey Ramblers Farnham Group undertake Luckily it was dry when the work gate is on the north-eastern edge Society, who do such great work to invited their monthly path maintenance tasks was done, but with autumn and of Hobbshill Wood from which encourage and protect access to the W local Member of for Surrey County Council, winter rain the path soon reverted there is a fine view over Great countryside, wish to commemorate Parliament along to a walk sometimes involving quite major to its usual boggy condition. Missenden and the Misbourne my achievements and those of the in November they were in work and on 21 September last year, The work involved considerable Valley. The inscription on the gate county council’s rights-of-way for a shock. For parts of the I joined their volunteer work party physical effort digging holes for the is: ‘Mike Walker, path champion staff. I am particularly pleased boardwalk Ramblers volunteers of 15 members plus two Surrey wooden ‘H ‘frames, fixing them in thanks from Buckinghamshire that the council’s relations and had installed over an often County Council trainees. We built position in the ground, then laying Ramblers’. cooperation with path users muddy path at Pirbright just the 21-metre boardwalk over a very and fixing lateral wooden beams Says Kate Ashbrook, Ramblers’ and volunteers have improved weeks earlier had been removed. boggy area on Pirbright Footpath between the ‘H’ frames along the Area footpath secretary: ‘Mike has tremendously over the years. If I Brian Reader, Chair of Woking 410 (at grid ref SU 939582, north line of the path, and finally then worked tirelessly for Bucks County have helped to achieve that then I Group, explains: of the bridge over Stanford Brook). continued on page 2 Council for over 30 years and hope I have done a good job.’ Baroness Parminter of Godalming (centre front in photo) joined 35 Godalming & Haslemere Ramblers for a walk in the Gathered at the gate are (left to right) John Esslemont (Area Treasurer and Puttenham area on 11 September. The life peer, who sits in the House of Lords on the Liberal Democrat benches was on a Acting Secretary), Paul Rhodes (Area Chairman), Mike Walker and Kate fact-finding mission to better understand the role played by the Ramblers in a local community. Ashbrook (Area Footpath Secretary). 2 South East Walker continued from page 1 fixing the wooden decking to the Then we learned, to the intense boardwalk to the lateral beams. All disappointment of both Surrey materials for the boardwalk were County Council and ourselves, supplied by the county council, the that the boardwalk had been Lea access on Ramblers supplied the labour. vandalised, with all the decking On the same day, the work party and lateral beams being removed - also installed a new fingerpost, five quite probably stolen as there was new waymark posts and did half a no sign of the missing wood. We the way – at last! mile of minor vegetation clearing advised Mr Lord, but he was still fter many years of to be installed during 2015. Line, which will link the Queen the path and another nearby. The keen to come on the walk. frustrated efforts to Leigh Hatts, author of the Elizabeth Olympic Park with the group were rightly very pleased On the day itself the weather provide access to the guidebook to the Lea Valley o2, partly by following a section with the results of their hard work. overnight had been dire with A Lower Lea in east London, some Walk, a 50-mile route following of the Lea, and the interest in Pirbright parish lies in Guildford torrential rain and the forecast progress is now being made the River Lea from its source at developing Cody Dock as a creative Borough but is part of Woking was equally dire. So there was a to open up the eastern bank Luton to the Thames, said: ‘It’s centre with plans to transform the parliamentary constituency. Just limited turnout for the walk of just between Bromley-by-Bow and been a long story. The London riverside into wetland, woodland after the work party completed its John Plympton (Farnham Group’s Canning Town. Thames Gateway Development and wildflower meadows. My task, Woking Group learned of the Work Party Organiser), myself Currently, most walkers heading Corporation had full planning guidebook is out of print at Ramblers’ campaign to get MPs out and Eugene Suggett from Central south along the Lea Valley Walk permission and £28 million in present but a new edition, which on a short walk on ‘Get Walking Office, though it did stop raining divert at Bromley-by-Bow to funding but failed to deliver before will include a revised route from Day’, Friday 14 November, so we almost on the dot of 11am. We were follow the Limehouse Cut canal to it was wound up in 2012. Recent Bromley-by-Bow to the Thames, contacted Woking MP, Jonathan able to show Mr Lord photographs reach the Thames at Limehouse. progress has come about thanks to should be available from publisher Lord, to invite him out with us to of the boardwalk as it had been Although it is possible to follow a the proposed sculpture trail, The Cicerone by the end of the year.’ talk about issues affecting ramblers immediately after completion, track beside the eastern bank of the generally, and also to show him and he could compare them with Lea south of Bromley-by-Bow this a practical example of Ramblers it after the vandalism. He was comes to an abrupt halt at Cody work in his constituency. Mr Lord very appreciative of our work, and Dock, a long-derelict part of an old is a walker himself, he accepted our shared our disappointment that it gasworks, and now a developing invitation, and we agreed a meeting had been undone so mindlessly so centre for social enterprises being place for 11am. soon afterwards. set up by the Gasworks Dock Partnership. A footbridge across the mouth of Cody Dock (grid ref TQ 386818) A walk for Fred - the crucial gap in the route - and ssex Area has been new steps linking the Lea Valley grateful for the notable Walk with the extended route at Econtributions made by the Twelvetrees Crescent bridge many members over the years (grid ref TQ 383825) are planned On the Lea near Cody Dock. since it was formed. It was felt that the achievements of these members should not be forgotten and a yearly memorial walk should be held to remember David Sharp retires one of this number. On 8 October 2014, West he December issue of on devising many of London’s layouts and been a reliable source Essex Group organised a five- South East Walker was strategic routes and its successor of wise advice. He remains a Vice mile walk to honour Fred the last to be co-edited organisations, the Ramblers Greater President of the Ramblers nationally Matthews who died on 1 T by David Sharp who has given London Forum, as well as various (it is a life sentence). Together with January 2009. The walk, from many years (he declines to give roles for Surrey Area. On South his wife Margaret, who has also Connaught Water through a figure) of incredible service to East Walker his involvement has worked for the Ramblers in various Epping Forest to Higham Park the Ramblers going back to the covered writing most of our centre roles over the years, their house was lake and on to south Chingford, days of the Southern Area which spreads, contributing photos from more like a Ramblers production was led by John Francis who Fred Matthews as many will covered all the ground between his vast collection, editing the Surrey centre. Thank you David (and said a few words about Fred, remember him in his later years. Norfolk and the Isle of Wight. Snippets pages and so on (so expect Margaret) for all your hard work the person and his many Photo: Len Banister He has been active in many roles a drop in standards from now on). and very best wishes for your achievements. Many of the involvement by the highways ranging from the writing the original Even those little illustrations at the retirement years (though you will be walkers remembered Fred and department was continued Thames Path and London Loop head of each Area news is David’s welcome to withdraw your notice at were able to relate stories about on the nationally-recognised guidebooks, very much involved work.