Walk heroes smash distance record in tribute to pioneers

Seven choir walkers set a new distance record on Monday February 14 in an outing that commemorated the first choir walk ten years ago.  Covering much of the same ground as the 2012 pioneers, they clocked up a total of 12.88 kms, or just over eight miles – consigning to history the previous record of 7.28 miles set on a Merstham-based walk in April 2017.

The seven record-breaking heroes

This week’s walk began and ended in Eynsford, Kent, and followed a circular route to Shoreham.  In so doing it tracked much of the route taken on 8 February 2012 by the three choir members, all from the bass section, who thereby founded the choir’s informal walking group. 

The three founders were Jon Evans, Pete Smith and Peter Gillman and their walk was undertaken in full winter conditions.   Jon is now living in Australia and Pete died in 2019, leaving the one member, Peter Gillman, who took part in the tenth-anniversary outing.

This time the walkers departed from the Malt Shovel in Eynsford and followed the Darenth Valley Farm Path as it took the high route across farmland to Lullingstone Roman Valley.  There was a chill and blustery wind but so far no rain. The route  turned south to Lullingstoke Castle where it picked up the route taken in 2012, although in the reverse direction.

On the Darenth Valley Farm Path above Eynsford

The walkers crossed Lullingstoke Park Golf Club then headed southwest through Lower Beechen and Home Woods.  There were both steep and muddy sections and it began to rain, but the walkers, inspired by thoughts of the pioneers, took all such obstacles in their stride.

They followed a footpath south to Crockenhurst Road, from where they walked along the road into Shoreham and the Crown Inn – the pub where the 2012 trio had lunch at the end of that momentous first walk.

The walkers at the Crown, Shoreham, shortly before the core seven departed to complete the record-breaking route

Peter Gillman particularly remembered the warming open fire from 2012 – a necessary antidote to a walk which had tracked through a snow-covered landscape, and which remains the only walk undertaken in full winter conditions in the intervening ten years.

In a message from Jon Evans in Oz to the walkers of the current era, he recalled how “the ice lay crisp and uneven.  The snow and wind were blasting our faces.  The icy wind found every gap in our clothing.  And the sky was bright, almost silver-blue, between grey clouds and squalls….We pressed on, intrepid explorers in a magnificent winter setting…It was a brilliant experience, and it’s so good that a walking group developed as a result.”

Pioneers Pete Smith and Jon Evans photographed during first walk by Peter Gillman

It was at this point that the 2022 outing took an intriguing turn.  Taking refreshment at the Crown were 12 walkers who had set out from Eynsford and had covered approximately five miles so far.   Five now declared that rather than complete the walk, and thus pay full tribute to the 2012 pioneers, they would prefer to remain at the Crown drinking more beer until such point as they could secure a lift back to Eynsford.

For the two walkers still recovering from Covid, it seemed a very sensible solution. For the remaining three, it was hard to think of a plausible excuse.

The record-breakers nearing Eynsford on the delightful home stretch

Undaunted, the seven core walkers set off on the return leg, this time following a route heading almost due north to Eynsford.  After the challenging outward leg, it was a delight to follow the course of the Darenth River,  along a mostly dry and level path.  Night was falling as they reached the Malt Shovel – ahead of the Crown drinking group who had a convoluted tale to relate about how difficult it had been to cadge a lift back to Eynsford. Those who had actually walked from Shoreham offered their profound condolences.

We should draw a veil over the remaining proceedings at the Malt Shovel, with the most miserable landlord in history and a series of cock-ups over the meal order, apparently hindered by the collapse of bridge some ten miles away in Bromley, plus an influx of Valentine's Day celebrants.  The highlight was the appearance of past walkers Phil and Sally Blewett, following a long spell of illness for Phil from which he is now recovering.

Carve their names with pride. The seven walkers who completed the tribute outing and smashed the 2017 record were:  George and Linda Taylor, John Marshall, Tony Keel, Dick Jones, Hazel Willson and 2012 veteran Peter Gillman.  The five walkers who baled out at the Crown shall remain nameless (apart from Barry and Jacqui Farrant who had a good excuse). The record measurement of 12.88kms was submitted and confirmed by Dick Jones.