S O U T H E A S T No.85 March 2014 Footpathwalker campaigner Margaret Bowdery MBE retires after 43 years embers of Maidenhead- ‘Adopt a Footpath’ scheme in the duties to fellow-member Phil based East Berkshire 1960s and in 1967 she helped the Smith. She remains however as MRamblers paid tribute former Berkshire County Council Honorary Life President of the at their AGM on 15 November to update their Definitive Map. Then, group. Margaret has been presented Margaret Bowdery, who is well- on 30 June 1970, following her with a signed card from members, a known across Berkshire Area own initiative, the first meeting of framed certificate of good service and nationally for her tenacious what was to become East Berkshire and - at her own request - a bird Rt Hon Theresa May MP with Margaret at the official opening of the ‘Bowdery Arch’ involvement in countless footpath Ramblers group was held. table and a cheque to spend on her on 17 June 2005. Photo: Dave Ramm campaigns and access issues. Since that date - and until her garden where, she says, she hopes continue to enjoy the long-lasting and coach walks were especially Margaret well remembers that on recent retirement - Margaret has to spend more time but ‘with fewer friendships from our earliest task rewarding as well as indoor social first coming to live in Maidenhead, been the group’s Footpath Secretary problems!’ force days. I am profoundly grateful events. I am deeply grateful for and with a love of walking, she and through numerous campaigns In a letter thanking the group to all members, especially committee everyone for making the East Berks didn’t know where to go for a walk and successes has become one of the Margaret writes: ‘When I offered members past and present, who have Group so successful.’ as there were no signposts or visible country’s most respected champions to adopt a single path chain from given me such wonderful support Gerald Barnett paths on the ground. Paths which of rights of way. Maidenhead to Henley all those and encouragement over the years. East Berks Group Secretary could be found were mostly badly Within East Berks Group, years ago, little did I realise where Particularly important was the and David Bailey East Berks overgrown. Margaret’s response was Margaret is pleased to be able to that would lead. I can look back on introduction of the social side of Group Chairman to sign up to the Ramblers national hand over her Footpath Secretary so many happy memories and still the group. The group holidays Continued on page 2 Walking with our MP taines Ramblers were delighted to be They were blessed with a beautifully sunny national issues facing the walking community. joined by Kwasi Kwarteng, the MP for late autumn morning and the walk provided This was initially in response to a request from SSpelthorne, on one of their scheduled an excellent opportunity in an informal setting Central Office for each group to consider Saturday walks. for an exchange of views on current local and contacting their local MP. The underlying purpose behind this request is to ensure that our representatives in government (and opposition) recognise and understand the issues facing the Ramblers, such as the aim of joining up coastal paths and protection of existing rights of way, particularly when forestry land is being sold off. The walkers on that day had a chance to get to know their local MP and discuss issues with him whilst exploring some of the lovely paths around our area. They were impressed by Kwasi’s enthusiasm for Spelthorne and his Project evident enjoyment of the walk and hope he will find time to walk with them again. He generously offered to talk to a representative launch from the Ramblers Central Office in order to discuss key issues more fully. This message was n our centre spread duly passed on and a meeting is to be arranged. you can read about As a ‘thank you’ to Kwasi, Ramblers HQ Othe project to get sent him a specially created card resembling the London walking, launched cover of an OS map with a picture of the group by the Ramblers Greater taken on that day. A photographer from one London Forum. of the local Staines papers was present at the We’ve stated our case in the beginning of the walk to record the event and brochure above, produced by the short item which appeared subsequently the Forum’s steering group. It’s meant further publicity for the Staines now going out to TfL, local Ramblers. authorities and other interested Kwasi with some of the Staines Ramblers Photo courtesy Staines Informer bodies, to gain their support. 2 South East Walker Continued from page 1 of a life-threatening crossing of the time in which to do them. That the A404 itself. That tunnel - the will remain a perpetual mystery! Margaret has worked closely ‘Bowdery Arch’ - and Margaret’s Margaret lists amongst her with staff at Ramblers’ Central other achievements, bridges, proudest moments: Office on many campaigns over the towpaths and new path links, • the opening of Temple Bridge years. In particular Janet Davis and gates in place of stiles and so on, over the Thames in 1972 - the Eugene Suggett, both Senior Policy represent very real improvements ferry had stopped operating there Officers. to the path network, which will be in the 1950s. Ramblers donated Janet Davis writes: there for everyone to use for years £9,100 to the cost of the bridge. Margaret was an established figure to come. They are a brilliant legacy • the opening up of access to Sashes at the Ramblers when I started work and I am very grateful for having Island at Cookham, inaccessible for the organisation almost 30 years had the opportunity to work with since the ferry there closed in ago. What became apparent from Margaret as she fought for those 1956. Access over the new weir my earliest encounters with her was improvements. bridge was granted in 1991. that the title Footpath Secretary Eugene Suggett writes: • the visit by David Maclean, didn’t do justice to the work she It was 27 years ago, when I joined then Minister of State for the was doing for us. Margaret was a the Ramblers staff, that I first Environment and Countryside campaigner who would investigate encountered Margaret. She was in 1993 to see the many every possible means of achieving already a legendary figure by then, achievements of the group, which changes to the rights of way with a long-established reputation included the opening of the first network which would benefit the as a defender of public rights of way, disabled access kissing gate in the walking public - she would speak to and a campaigner for a better deal for Royal Borough of Windsor and councillors and to council officers, walkers. To work with Margaret has Maidenhead. and to landowners, she wrote letters been a delight, and an inspiration: • the opening of the towpath under and she carried out research - no whether it was her tenacious pursuit Cookham Bridge in 2007, thus stone was left unturned. I visited of councils in their dealing with avoiding crossing a busy road and her house on one occasion and obstructed paths, or her claiming two flights of steps. Campaigning was shown her Ramblers ‘office’ of public rights of way for them for this started in 1988. which I think had more paper in to be added to the definitive map, • champagne celebrations with it than I had around my desk at or her collaborative practical work Theresa May MP in 2005 on the Central Office, and in more than in the provision of user-friendly opening of what is now known as one instance it was apparent from a gates. Margaret’s energy seemed the ‘Bowdery Archway’ - a tunnel conversation with her that she had (and still seems) boundless. The under the busy A404 at Bisham. Margaret with David Bailey, East Berks Ramblers Chairman, next to the bird table in been working on a case into the vast amount of work and effort Persistence over eight years, with early hours of the morning. The list her garden which she says is already giving enormous pleasure to her and husband Margaret had contributed on the active support of Theresa Bernard. of her achievements is prodigious behalf of the public in general, and May, finally resulted in success at to kick-start the project this for those involved in work in and shows that persistence is often the nation’s increasing number of a public inquiry. new link for the Thames Path rural communities. the most vital ingredient when it walkers in particular, is something • persuading Royal Borough National Trail was completed in Unfortunately Margaret is comes to footpath work. This is for which very many people have of Windsor and Maidenhead 2007. retiring before a successful end to illustrated very well by the saga good reason to be grateful and glad. Council to fulfil their duty and • accepting an MBE for services another campaign with which she of the tunnel under the A404 After about 10 years of working provide a new footpath link to rambling from the Prince of has been involved for many years when eight years of campaigning, with Margaret, I just about stopped across the Public Landing Steps Wales in November 2006. - the missing link in the Thames including representations to the being astonished by the number of upstream of Maidenhead Bridge, • meeting Her Majesty the Queen Path National Trail at Bridge Secretary of State, and a three day challenges she seemed prepared to avoiding three road crossings.