Sunday, 7 March 2010

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!