Pennine Way - Johnny Campbell tour - Malham - Horton section - Rob Cowan Great North Road - Amy Jane Beer Nature Writer -and more

Johnny Campbell and friend Freddy Hodkin are walking the Pennine way and arranging performances en route.

Johnny Campbell Singing at Malham Methodist Chapel

 

He wrote: "Myself and @freddiehodkincomposer  of @righttoroam_kernow will be walking the 268 mile journey in 19 days, 17 shows en route to champion and celebrate the 60th anniversary of Britain's first long distance trail!)

I was given a poster about the event at Horton in Ribblesdale on 25 March -by Horton Church - but then saw there was an event at Malham on 24th also featuring the writer of a book due out in April of "The Great North Road" - 

Which became the A1. 

Having grown up in Ripon, 5 miles from the great North Road and with memories of being concerned (and possibly confused) at the tender age of say 8 or 9 that this Roman road was now being covered by tarmac dual carriageway  I was keen to hear this speaker, so went to Malham Chapel.

Rob Cowan

It was a lovely occasion - We heard the fascinating talk by Rob Cowan with readings from his book, including a picture of a skeleton recently being excavated at Catterick.    The light walls and modern projection equipment worked well.

Johnny Cambell's voice resonated in the well-lit chapel. This was done up about 15 years ago - pews removed and a special floor with illustrations of Malham Cove, Janet's Foss etc illustrated so that you can go on a mini-pilgrimage round the village within the Chapel building.

Sally from Malham Chapel was there providing hot drinks and squash and cake and crisps for both before and in the interval of the event.. (and an opportunity to visit the spacious disabled access loo.)

I used to attend Malham Chapel when I worked at Malham Tarn Field Centre.. So it was memory lane.. except that it looks completely different now with the pews removed.  One memory I have of the chapel was the Sunday school anniversary with about nine   8-11 year olds (At that age, how long will they keep coming I thought).  This evening three of them had actually come for the performance.

 I looked at Rob's book and will buy it next month.

I bought a DVD of Johnny's music and a tea -towel

And I met Amy Jane Beer - nature writer and in 1921 president of Friends of the Dales. 

She told me she was walking with Johnny to Horton on Tue 25th and would be speaking at the event at St Oswald's church that night.  So as I write this they are on that walk....

Past Malham Tarn Past the Field Centre and SSSI/ Ramsar site, SAC, National Nature Reserve,

Past the barn used for the scene in Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life" 

Over Fountains Fell

Over Pen y Ghent

and down to Horton

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I remember many other people I have met on that route - 

From Peter Bayes and his wife at the Pen y Ghent Cafe who I met when as a  teenager I was walking the first half of the Pennine way. (maybe 55 years ago)

To the many adults on courses like "Exploring the Yorkshire Dales" from the Field Centre when we walked the 12 miles from the Tarn to Horton

To people from Lichens and Mosses expeditions  .. (We have REAALLY good Mosses and Lichens in some of the limestone cliffs and gills and pastures in this area. )

To The Bishop of Bradford (Now Leeds - Revd Nick Baines) on his first day as Bishop of Bradford, when we walked up PenyGhent in the rain

To Jasmine Paris, and other Spine walk racers. (I will add some links later)