Forty Years On Foot
2008 saw the 40th anniversary of the first ‘Avenue House’ hike and as a celebration Peter Cox collated details of all the hikes that had taken place over the years. Reports, maps and photographs were published in a souvenir booklet entitled ‘Forty Years on Foot’.
Enough copies were printed for everyone who had participated in at least one hike and an effort was made to track down the numerous people with whom we had lost contact. Although these efforts were reasonably successful some hikers have still not been located – their copy of the booklet still awaits them.
The contents of the booklet are now being made available to everyone through this web site. This medium also allows for the publication of additional material (mainly photographs) relating to each of the hikes. It also allows for the inclusion of hikes that have taken place since the booklet was produced.
Listed below are the dates and locations of the hikes – each date links to the individual report. There are separately league tables that show the names of all hikers and in which events they participated.
The supreme arbiter of all things points-related was Graham Beevor.
The Extra Miles
A supplement to “Forty Years On Foot” providing the Annual Winter Hike reports from 2009 – 2018 was again produced by Peter Cox
When ‘40 Years on Foot’ was produced back in 2008, I, like everyone else, had not considered what might occur during the following years, let alone that our annual winter get together would continue to take place. But here I am again, pulling together more hike reports covering another decade.
During the last 10 years we have enjoyed nine hikes, visiting North Wales (Rhyl), South Wales (Gower Peninsular), Devon (Paignton), four National Parks (North Yorkshire Moors, Exmoor, Peak District and New Forest) and several Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (notably The Forest of Bowland), before returning to Surrey and specifically Leith Hill, where our adventure began, for our 50th Anniversary Hike. These have involved twelve different members, including Laurie Noble who joined us again in 2010, having been tracked down during 2009.
So why do we do it? That’s the usual question we are asked – especially in the middle of winter, struggling through mud; climbing steep hills; getting cold and wet. Well, I think Phil Knowles supplied an excellent answer when he provided his notes for our last (sorry – most recent) hike. He said, ‘there’s the joy of exploring the glorious British countryside – it’s not always raining. Then there’s the challenge of being up against the elements. However, the main reason we have carried on for the past 50 years is the spirit of comradeship and friendship that we have developed over the years since our Finchley and Friern Barnet Scouting days, despite the fact that we are now scattered far afield – north, south, east and west, with just a few remaining in or around the Finchley area.’
Thanks
Without doubt this supplement could not have been produced without the help of several others. I would specifically like to thank Graham Beevor and Geoff Wright for remembering and providing the routes, and doing most of the proof reading.
Additionally, I am grateful to Alan Durrant, Martin Hime, Phil Knowles, Drew Rush and Malcolm Rush who have all provided notes that formed the basis of the various reports, and to everyone who provided photographs and other sundry snippets.
However, without the hikes actually taking place there would be nothing to write about and although we are certain this landmark would not have been reached without the enthusiasm and drive of Graham and Geoff, there are several others who have played an important role during the past 50 years.
Geoff has suggested the following should therefore also get a mention: British Rail for transport to the early hikes, Malcolm Duff (and “Jennifer”) for transport in the 80’s, the 6th and 22nd Finchley for camping equipment, Malcolm Rush for cooking the hike breakfasts, John Schmitt for arranging the B&Bs when we gave up camping, publicans around the country for letting us camp in their pub gardens and me for getting people to let us camp in their fields.
I’m sure there are others and I’m sorry if you have not been mentioned.
Points table
A condensed version of the points table is given at the back and focuses on the last ten years and those involved. Graham Beevor has continued to have sole responsibility for the allocation of points, with a full point being awarded for every hike (weekend) completed and fractions being deducted for missing sections.
Our next steps
The 50th Anniversary Annual Winter Hike (AWH) was the last in the current format comprising a series of walks from a conveniently situated bed and breakfast base, with a convivial dinner in a local pub or restaurant at the close of each day. Known as ‘the B&B years’ this format was introduced in 1996 when it was decided to abandon the practice of carrying everything around and sleeping in tents.
From 2019 we will be adopting the model outlined in the 2016 hike report, with the weekend including a choice of activities. While there will still be the opportunity to hike there will also be something a little more relaxing like a visit to a museum or other place of interest. The important thing is that we keep the annual event going, meeting up each evening for fine food, fine drink and fine conversation.
With the points table being closed we are now looking forward to ‘The Pointless Years’.
Peter Cox
Definitions
Classic Era – hikes from The Beginning in 1968 to 1977, when we had darker hair and spent less time discussing our ailments.
Modern Era – hikes since the Great Hiatus of 1978/1979.
Post Modern Era – hikes from 1996 for which we have stayed in a Bed and Breakfast and have had the freedom to take on more challenging walks in areas to which we had not previously been. And walked further. And eaten in restaurants. And not gone soft at all.
International Era – our one hike that took place outside the United Kingdom, in 2003.
Pointless Era
Those times when we have gone away as a group since The 50th Anniversary and the closure of the points table.
Please note that the various maps used on this site are latest versions, and therefore do not show exactly how an area looked when some of the hikes took place. In several instances, for example, motorways are shown that simply did not exist 20 – 40 (or more) years ago.
The routes shown on the maps are indicative. They are not supposed to show the exact footpaths or roads that were used.
Reports
Click on a year to go to the report:
