PILGRIMAGE SEASON
CONTENTS
THE OUNDLE PILGRIMAGE LAUNCH FOR SUE RYDER
(August)
THE CORNWALL PILGRIMAGE FUNDRAISING WALK FOR THE ST JULIAS APPEAL (September)
ROBIN MOORE’S OUNDLE PILGRIMAGE WALK
THE VISION
Based on local walks around the region of Oundle the
The pilgrimage is also an invitation to the outside world to discover this quiet little corner of Northamptonshire. Local business people have welcomed the idea as it has the potential to increase the flow of commerce and generally provide a stronger link with tourism. We simply need to remind ourselves how beautiful our environment is: the reason why visitors spend time photographing our beautiful churches, other fine buildings and frequenting the medieval village inns. The region of Oundle translates to me as one of the world’s best-kept secrets: a timeless valley so abundant in history and architectural grandeur yet equally blessed with simple pre-requisites of country life. With this vision borne in mind and the mode of exploration in place, I can see no harm in sharing God’s wonderful work.
THE EVENT
The Oundle Pilgrimage, founded by Robin Moore and set up as a fund-raising project, is dedicated to Thorpe Hall Hospice Care, Peterborough (Sue Ryder Care). We will endeavour to retain the Pilgrimage walk as a traditional event by walking each second weekend in August. We also hope it will gain National recognition and interest to visitors worldwide, and the sale of each passport will contribute towards local hospice care.
The launch of The Oundle Pilgrimage Walk will take place on 14th/15th August 2010 starting at St Peter’s Church between 9am and 11am on Farmers market Saturday; Sunday from 8.30am to 10.30am. Registered Pilgrims may commence the event from their own parish churches if it is more convenient to do so. Link routes from
REGISTRATION
Each Pilgrim will pay a subscription fee (about £5) made payable by cheque to The Sue Ryder charity at Trek-Kits in Oundle. This will provide them with a sponsor form to collect funds from their own social groups before the event: a Pilgrim's Passport to collect stamps en route (12 in all): finally, on collection of each individual’s funds, we will send out a certificate with details of each effort (funds raised/miles walked). The certificate will mark the extent of their overall journey once completed, but it is paramount that funds are collected first. We cannot issue certificates to individuals until their forms and monies have been received. We also hope to send prizes to the first ten highest sponsorship amounts on the sponsor sheets: TREK-KITS will require a photocopy of each sheet on the day of participation to estimate our tally over the weekend. In addition to this we are seeking permission to collect in public areas including the Farmers Market on Saturday.
OUNDLE PILGRIMAGE WALKING GUIDE
A pilgrimage guide/booklet will also be available at the cost of £5 at Trek-Kits, Oundle Bookshop and Ashton Green. We expect a release date around middle of July in time for the event as it will be a complete instruction on how to best walk the route in line with the facilities available throughout the journey.
Posters will be made available for event/booklet: we are anticipating a promotion of both at the Thurning Feast on Sunday 25th July.
TREASURY
We aim to collect funds throughout the whole event in addition to the sponsorship raised from the forms. The amount raised over the weekend will then be shared equally between 2 charities: Sue Ryder and Cancer Research UK: this will allow pilgrims a chance to support research and entitle them to a further certificate from the Cancer Research Charity for funds raised on the day. We are looking at the concept of group activity here: using buckets/collection tins as we anticipate large numbers of pilgrims arriving at different times on separate days with some starting from their home destinations rather than Oundle/Ashton. We are hoping for a good turn out and effort in fundraising on the day to do our charities proud.
Treasurers from the local charities will also collect sponsorship money from participants and issue buckets per group and boxes/forms for individuals to use en route. Cheques can be made out to the appropriate charities and handed over to the representatives on the day. Alternatively speak to Julie Laithwaite from Sue Ryder about sending forms and funds to her after the event. Once she has received the money certificates can be issued accordingly.
THE JOURNEY
Picnic lunches will be available at some of the inns and camping facilities will be provided for weekenders as well.
PHASE 1
Starting at St Peter’s Church in Oundle, pilgrims obtain their first official pilgrimage stamp. On leaving the church walk through North Street and turn right onto East Road (near football ground) and continue a hundred metres to TREK KITS (Eastwood Industrial Estate)where Claire Crosby will ensure every one is equipped for the occasion ( pilgrim booklets on sale here too). She will need an estimate of sponsors raised by each pilgrim in order to be in contention for a prize for most funds raised. From here we walk to Ashton Green via the meadows and obtain second passport stamp and coffee at The Chequered Skipper whilst dealing with any further pre-walk preparation. We are aiming to provide some party leaders and will have sentries on road sections leading into villages.
From here the walk gets properly under way with St Peter’s Church becoming a distant focal point as other churches come into view. We have designed a suitable off-road walk for those with young families not wishing to engage in the long distance format: it also takes in
PHASE 2
Leaving Ashton, the path follows part of the
PHASE 3
Taking the lane to the left of The King’s Arms, (sign marked with yellow tape) continue downhill to the circus and cross farmland to Armston. Walk through the estate and donkey paddock, following yellow signs to Barnwell (churches and The Montagu Arms inn). The Montagu Arms will be open and able to stamp passports for the Pilgrimage Walk. Using either the turkey farm route or the cut across the arable farm by the inn carpark, continue to Thurning (mostly footpath).
The Saint James Church at Thurning will be open to stamp passports and will provide refreshments for weary walkers. There will be a possible campsite and hall available for weekenders, but most importantly the church will provide an original Camino Passport Stamp akin to all European pilgrimages.
Walk the road to Clopton: then take footpath marked Titchmarsh which offers two routes to the destination: the longer journey goes via Thorpe
There are a church and 2 inns at Titchmarsh: The Wheatsheaf and The Dog and Partridge, both of which serve food.
PHASE 4
Cross busy main road with care and link with Nene Way Trail walking to
Aldwincle: There is no inn but the village houses the excellent Pear tree Tearooms which will cater for pilgrims and the farm will supply ground for camping and also B&B. From here walk to
Wadenhoe: The beautiful church set on a hill above the Nene is also where the pilgrimage links with the Lyveden Way path which walkers from Benefield and Brigstock may use to reach this point); The King’s Head is a joy to all walkers who have the luxury of resting by the river, enjoying the patio area or simply enjoying the appeal of this olde worlde inn.
Continuing along the
Achurch, crossing the village churchyard and onto Lilford; Continuing by road for a short distance beyond Lilford Bridge, locate the access across the fields to
PHASE 5
Before
The landlord at The Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick will provide Picnic lunches, a campsite and Breakfasts for pilgrims. The charming inn is renowned for excellent food, ale and country music.
There is a link footpath from Kingscliffe to Southwick which enables walkers from this region to join the pilgrimage. The next part is taken up on a country road to Fotheringhay which houses wonderful cathedral-like St Mary and All Saints Church and popular Falcon Inn.
PHASE 6
Leaving Fotheringhay in the direction of Nassington, take the footpath on the right to Elton – there is a link path from the pilgrim route to the church and Black Horse Inn. Walking through the Elton Estate the journey takes in Eaglethorpe; Warmington and Ashton Estate finally concluding at The Chequered Skipper.
A social event/gathering will take place here after the event. All inns will be expecting a good turnout over the weekend and may also put on a traditional event/folk music– so enjoy yourself wherever you choose to finish of each day!
AIMS
1) WEEKEND EVENT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR LOCAL CHARITIES.
2) HELP STIMULATE LOCAL BUSINESSES
3) CREATE SOCIAL BONDING AND GOOD COMMUNITY FORUM WITH COMMON CAUSE IN MIND
4) CHARACTER-BUILDING FOR YOUNGSTERS
5) INDOCTINATE HEALTH AND FITNESS LIFESTYLE ETHIC
6) PROVIDE A MARKETING EXCERISE FOR LEISURE/TOURISM
7) AUTHENTICATE ROUTE AS A PERMANENT FIXTURE AND WORLDWIDE ROUTE FOR PILGRIMS
OBJECTIVES
1) FUNDRAISING: it will be the responsibility of each individual to collect sponsorship using forms provided. Rather than demand a minimum amount to enter, I prefer to offer prizes to those who raise the most. I will donate a gift worth over £50. I look to other companies to provide another 9 prizes in total making ten in all. Any one wishing to help by donating a prize please contact Trek-Kits. Sponsor forms obtained from here can also be used to collect en route. We will ask the authorities for a collection period for Farmers Market Saturday to boost the fundraising purse. Online donation scheme can be set up on charity websites and we can send out information/emails to all local businesses/groups.
2) PUBLISH BOOKLETS, PASSPORTS AND POSTERS BY MIDDLE OF JULY. WE ARE EXPECTING PASSPORTS/REGISTRATION TO BE UP AND RUNNING BEFORE THURNING FEAST.
3) REGISTRATION OUTLET FOR PARTICIPANTS WILL BE AT TREK-KITS,
Cheques must be made payable to the charity: we cannot take card payments for this event.
4) ESTABLISH ROUTE: Ensure paths are adequately sign posted: as well as footpath signs indicated in my guide, we will also use the yellow arrow signs (or yellow tape markers) and scallop shells, which are consistent with the Pilgrim routes in
5) CONTINUITY OF PROJECT (its legacy)
We must open the project up beyond local participants and market it as a world pilgrimage event attracting other visitors to the region. As well as having its annual meaning in terms of what we can do each year for local charities, let tourism play its part too. For example we could have a separate Religious Pilgrimage for Easter Visitors or by establishing a centre for the passport scheme, we could distribute to the rest of the world as and when they choose to visit our beautiful countryside. In this way the project pays for itself in terms of maintenance (signposting), and we can allocate the remaining funds to Sue Ryder Care. I use the conker championship as one simple analogy; something that started as a local event later acclaiming international recognition.
PILGRIM CHURCHES
St Peter’s Church – Oundle (stamp required here)
Ashton Chapel
Hemmington
Polebrook
St James Church at Thurning (important pilgrim stamp required here) -
Titchmarsh
Aldwincle
Wadenhoe
Stoke Doyle
Fotheringhay
Elton Church
PILGRIM INNS
The
The Ship Inn,
The Chequered Skipper, Ashton.
The King’s Arms, Polebrook – Dedication to 'Skip'
The Montagu Arms, Barnwell
The Wheatsheaf, Titchmarsh
The Dog and Partridge, Titchmarsh
The King’s Head, Wadenhoe
The Shuckburgh Arms, Southwick – 01832 272044 (David Dixon) www.shuckburgharms.co.uk
The Falcon, Fotheringhay
The Black Horse, Elton
PROJECT MANAGERS
Robin Moore, Pilgrimage Founder, Author and fundraiser: 07706197209 - robin-moore@hotmail.co.uk
Co-Founders: Rick Murphy – 0796701809 – 01832 273224
David Wills - 01832273899
Julie Laithwaite – 01733 330060 – Julie.laithwaite@suerydercare.org
Claire Crosby – 01832 272050 – www.trek-kits.co.uk
Paul Coles – 01832 272765
We hope that we will be supported by the Oundle Walking Group – some of whom have already volunteered to lead groups throughout the event.
Further news will be added to the appropriate sections of this newsletter when necessary: please visit regularly for updates.
‘PLEASE JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN AND HELP OUR LOCAL CANCER CHARITIES.’
SEPTEMBER EVENT:
THE CORNISH PILGRIMAGE WALK
Starting on the 1st September, Robin will launch an appeal for St Julia's Hospice in Cornwall. He will walk the length of Cornwall, way-marking his Cornish Pilgrimage Trail while delivering leaflets and donation slips to local businesses as part of his quest to raise awareness and funds for the charity. Any body wishing to support Robin please contact the St Julia's Fundraising Office (Sarah or Angela) on Hayle 755770.
To support Robin and the St Julias Appeal please contact: 01726 66869 or visit: www.cornwallhospicecare.co.uk
To find out more about Robin's Seasonal Pilgrimage and Harvest Supper on Sunday 19th September at Fox and Hounds Comford phone 01209821025.
ITINERARY
1st September- Launceston
- Altarnun
Lanivet
Pentewan
Devoran Quay
Carharrack
St Ives
St Just
Land's End
Autumn Newsletter will feature progress reports about Pilgrimages/Fundraising and Blog of St Julia's Walk; Barmy Army Walk of New South Wales in Australia 2010/11 Ashes Series.
