Arrival at Carrow Road, left to right Alan Howard, Richard Darmody, Martin Muir and Jeremy Summerell
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.
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