‘Refugee supper’ for intrepid walkers on trek for Christian Aid (From Wharfedale Observer)

‘Refugee supper’ for intrepid walkers on trek for Christian Aid

4:31pm Thursday 10th May 2012 in Across the Years

This was the group of intrepid walkers (above) who set off for a late-night hike around Otley in May, 1967, raising money for Christian Aid.

The 100-plus met at the Congregational Church in Otley, for addresses by the then chairman of Otley Council, Mr F Farnell, and local clergy and ministers.

The walkers, the youngest of whom was just 12, ate a “refugee supper” of bread and cheese to sustain them on their hike.

They set off in pouring rain at around 9pm, and were accompanied by the civic dignitaries as far as Ellar Ghyll.

The route continued over the Chevin, down Old Pool Bank, along Leathley Lane, and back to the Congregational Church for coffee and sandwiches.

Not content with stopping there, however, some of the walkers stepped out again for another lap of the route, two of them managing not only this, but a further six miles into the bargain, to bring their mileage up to 30.

These diehards, we are told, completed their walk at 4pm the following day.