It is now several weeks since the walk came to its conclusion. It has left some wonderful memories and we have a great sense of achievement. I am incredibly grateful to all those who helped and supported us. So far the money raised is as follows:
A ten thousand pound legacy was given and is tied into providing equipment for The Bishop's School such as science equipment. This money has already been sent and received. We are going to be given accountability about how precisely this money is being used.
A twenty thousand pound gift has also been given and is waiting to be sent.
So far five thousand and five hundred pounds has been received from those who have sponsored the walk. Money is still being received and should amount to at least six thousand.
There is the possibility of a bucket collection at Norwich City FC next season.
June and I are being sent by our Church to Uganda in May in order to ensure that the money raised goes to where it is designed to go. This will give us a chance to meet the staff and governors of the Bishop's School, take photographs and generally get the work moving. When we return with the team in August we hope to report good progress.
Tuesday 9 March 2010
Sunday 7 March 2010
Arrival
Arrival at Carrow Road, left to right Alan Howard, Richard Darmody, Martin Muir and Jeremy Summerell
Days 5 and 6(Friday and Saturday 5th-6th March): Wymondham to Carrow Road. The final push to Norwich put a spring in the heels of the four walkers who began in Ely, and now the end was in sight. After another All English Breakfast we set out. The way was mainly footpath and so the pace was a cracking one. At Kett's Oak, which is a tree transported from the site of the 16th peasant's uprising we met two young soldiers who were walking from John o Groat's to Lands End, which put our small offering into perspective. However, nothing could take away the sense of accomplishment as we passed Hetherset and soon the suburbs of Norwich came into sight. We had arrived. At the end of the 70 mile walk we enjoyed some comfort at the Annesley Hotel; a long soak in the bath, a cup of tea and a chat in the lounge brought a feeling of well being. There was opportunity for sightseeing in the afternoon and a meal with each other and David Armes in the evening. There was a sense of happy satisfaction.
Saturday. Breakfast as late as 9am felt a luxury. June who had had a much earlier start from home caught an early train and arrived while we were still at breakfast. We all set off at 10.15 for Carrow Road on our shortest leg of the journey. We stopped for a while at Alan's mother's house as I had done as a child, she is now 96years old. She remembered me as "the little blonde boy from the bottom of Ketts Hill."
At Carrow Road we were shown into The Gunn Room and before long Delia Smith arrived with husband Michael. Delia was charm itself and very generous with her time. Together with the Club Photographer she took us onto the sacred turf of Carrow Road and our photograph was taken with Delia. She also said that the Club would take an interest in our work with Ugandan children, something which brought joy to our hearts. She suggested we might bring willing hands and buckets to collect at the ground. She also showed an interest in the Club supporting this as a charitable project. After Delia had signed our memorabilia we took a table next to hers for a three course meal and a bottle of white wine, all on the house. Later we were introduced to the members of the Gunn Room and given an ovation. The scoreline of Norwich 3 Yeovil 0 felt the perfect end to a perfect day.
Donations: we have completed this walk for the children of Uganda and in particular to provide a school in S W Uganda which will improve the lot of its impoverished young people.If you wish to contribute send a cheque made out to 'St Thomas a Becket PCC' and mark it, for the 'Walk for Uganda.' Send it to me, Canon Richard Darmody, 16, Hollow Lane, Ramsey, Cambs, PE26 1 DE.
This Blog: I will keep this blog going to show how the money people have donated is used-keep reading it!
Saturday. Breakfast as late as 9am felt a luxury. June who had had a much earlier start from home caught an early train and arrived while we were still at breakfast. We all set off at 10.15 for Carrow Road on our shortest leg of the journey. We stopped for a while at Alan's mother's house as I had done as a child, she is now 96years old. She remembered me as "the little blonde boy from the bottom of Ketts Hill."
At Carrow Road we were shown into The Gunn Room and before long Delia Smith arrived with husband Michael. Delia was charm itself and very generous with her time. Together with the Club Photographer she took us onto the sacred turf of Carrow Road and our photograph was taken with Delia. She also said that the Club would take an interest in our work with Ugandan children, something which brought joy to our hearts. She suggested we might bring willing hands and buckets to collect at the ground. She also showed an interest in the Club supporting this as a charitable project. After Delia had signed our memorabilia we took a table next to hers for a three course meal and a bottle of white wine, all on the house. Later we were introduced to the members of the Gunn Room and given an ovation. The scoreline of Norwich 3 Yeovil 0 felt the perfect end to a perfect day.
Donations: we have completed this walk for the children of Uganda and in particular to provide a school in S W Uganda which will improve the lot of its impoverished young people.If you wish to contribute send a cheque made out to 'St Thomas a Becket PCC' and mark it, for the 'Walk for Uganda.' Send it to me, Canon Richard Darmody, 16, Hollow Lane, Ramsey, Cambs, PE26 1 DE.
This Blog: I will keep this blog going to show how the money people have donated is used-keep reading it!
Day Four (Thursday 4th March): Larling to Wymondham.
Once again the day broke fair, with Spring sunshine if cold air. We were joined today by David Stokes and John Oram. Soon after setting out my mobile phone rang. It was to tell us that a dear friend and parishoner Felicity Littledyke had died following a courageous fight. As Felicity was known to most walkers we stood and held a moments silence and then I led a short prayer. In the knowledge that Felicity was very supportive we decided to press on with the day's walk.
The Norfolk countryside was just as John Betjamin would have described. We walked the country lanes which are distinctive of this area with their gently underlating fields and the occasional copse of trees surrounding a medieval Church, like the one we passed at Rockland St Mary's. We rested on the village green when we got to Great Elligham; eating the enormous Scotch Eggs or giant sausage rolls (I personally couldn't master both!).
For David Stokes, a Fenland farmer, today was a busman's holiday. He entertained us with informative comments about the crops and conditions. For example he entered a field to collect a sugar beet, cut it open with his pen knife and shared out its sweet contents.
The afternoon meant the long walk through Morley and other villages to Wymondham. There had been a lot of road work today and so the sight of the beautiful Abbey with it's ruin beside it's functioning Church building was a welcome beacon.
Once again the day broke fair, with Spring sunshine if cold air. We were joined today by David Stokes and John Oram. Soon after setting out my mobile phone rang. It was to tell us that a dear friend and parishoner Felicity Littledyke had died following a courageous fight. As Felicity was known to most walkers we stood and held a moments silence and then I led a short prayer. In the knowledge that Felicity was very supportive we decided to press on with the day's walk.
The Norfolk countryside was just as John Betjamin would have described. We walked the country lanes which are distinctive of this area with their gently underlating fields and the occasional copse of trees surrounding a medieval Church, like the one we passed at Rockland St Mary's. We rested on the village green when we got to Great Elligham; eating the enormous Scotch Eggs or giant sausage rolls (I personally couldn't master both!).
For David Stokes, a Fenland farmer, today was a busman's holiday. He entertained us with informative comments about the crops and conditions. For example he entered a field to collect a sugar beet, cut it open with his pen knife and shared out its sweet contents.
The afternoon meant the long walk through Morley and other villages to Wymondham. There had been a lot of road work today and so the sight of the beautiful Abbey with it's ruin beside it's functioning Church building was a welcome beacon.
Friday 5 March 2010
Donations
This morning Radio Cambridgeshire asked how people may donate to this appeal for the school in Uganda. We are grateful for the enormous generousity shown so far. We have received donations from people in all walks of life and would encourage you to
join them in this act of love and support for those in need and to help the future development of rural Uganda. Thank you.
Cheques may be made payable to:
ST. THOMAS a BECKET. PCC (Uganda Appeal)
Please send to:
CANON R. DARMODY
THE RECTORY, 16 HOLLOW LANE, RAMSEY, CAMBS. PE26 1DE
join them in this act of love and support for those in need and to help the future development of rural Uganda. Thank you.
Cheques may be made payable to:
ST. THOMAS a BECKET. PCC (Uganda Appeal)
Please send to:
CANON R. DARMODY
THE RECTORY, 16 HOLLOW LANE, RAMSEY, CAMBS. PE26 1DE
Thursday 4 March 2010
Day Three: Brandon to Larling (Norfolk).
And then we were four. Our day walkers had left us in Brandon the night before and today it was the four of us who were walking the whole way to Norwich who were on our own; Jeremy, Alan, Martin and myself. The day started mild as the milky sun was just about detectable. This was to prove something of a delusion as a biting east wind got up and blew in our faces. Walking through Thetford Forest was a welcome change from the previous day. Now with sand and pine needles beneath our feet we had a natural carpet to walk on. We chatted about our favourite films and actors (not to mention actresses!)and the funny lines we remembered from John Cleese in Clockwise and Monty Python (I had exhausted Fawlty Towers the previous night at the Otel). After Santon Downham our attention was drawn to some speckled lambs with a ram and older sheep which gave us reason to get the camera's clicking.
We were like ecstatic school boys when June turned up in the car with our lunch. By then we felt cold and hungry. Fortified by our snack we set off at some pace, walking single file along a minor road, past Army Camps and Chicken Farms to Great Hockham where we will start again tomorrow. The Angel Pub at Larling with it's wood fire was a welcome place to rest our weary limbs and prepare for the last two days.
And then we were four. Our day walkers had left us in Brandon the night before and today it was the four of us who were walking the whole way to Norwich who were on our own; Jeremy, Alan, Martin and myself. The day started mild as the milky sun was just about detectable. This was to prove something of a delusion as a biting east wind got up and blew in our faces. Walking through Thetford Forest was a welcome change from the previous day. Now with sand and pine needles beneath our feet we had a natural carpet to walk on. We chatted about our favourite films and actors (not to mention actresses!)and the funny lines we remembered from John Cleese in Clockwise and Monty Python (I had exhausted Fawlty Towers the previous night at the Otel). After Santon Downham our attention was drawn to some speckled lambs with a ram and older sheep which gave us reason to get the camera's clicking.
We were like ecstatic school boys when June turned up in the car with our lunch. By then we felt cold and hungry. Fortified by our snack we set off at some pace, walking single file along a minor road, past Army Camps and Chicken Farms to Great Hockham where we will start again tomorrow. The Angel Pub at Larling with it's wood fire was a welcome place to rest our weary limbs and prepare for the last two days.
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