Lucie Crouch, Gareth Williams, Roger Dyke, Dave Wylie, Sue Marsden, Christine Beeston, Neil Boynton, Margaret Baldock, Joe Dugdale, Sheena Hendrie, Philip Hartwell, Alan (L) Jones, Dave Shotton, Oi Ding Koy, Peter Walker, Iain McCallum, Callan the dog.

An excellent turn out on a beautiful sunny day for an amble in Cheshire and a walk down memory lane for one of the group. Can you work out who?

After all finding spaces on the side of the road to park due to the proposed car park being closed, we set off with a walk round Appleton reservoir, near Higher Walton. The area being where Roger grew up during the war. We then headed off towards Appleton. Roger’s brother lives there but we didn’t pop in.

Some suburban terrain led us to “the dingle” and Lumb Brook, a wooded valley. After a lunch stop and sharing of a tea loaf, we continued on to Grappenhall. As we had reached half way, a stop at the pub for a social drink was had, along with admiring the village Stocks and spotting the grinning cat that is carved on the church tower. This cat has been claimed as the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland. Grappenhall is also famous for the place where Roger’s parents got married and lived until about 1936.

The final part of the walk was back along the canal. About age 9, Roger rescued a child from drowning and 10 years later a friend of Roger missed a corner on his motorbike and ended up in the canal. He got out ok and was known as Splash after that. We all got to see the very spot this took place!

We then ended up back at the reservoir and our cars. 8.25 miles in total.

Thank you to everyone who attended and completing the walk as one group. Thank you to Roger for the great stories which I haven’t done justice in this report for the entertainment they provided. Definitely think there should be blue plaques at each memorable place!

The Cheshire walk this time is out towards Warrington and takes in Appleton Reservoir and Grappenhall.

8 1/4 miles long, the walk is described as a pleasant and rural one. It starts with a walk round the reservoir then steadily upwards for views over Warrington. Through a pretty valley, woods, cobbled village and along by a canal, there is a good variety of things to see.

The starting point is at Appleton Reservoir near Higher Walton where there is a free carpark. Meet there at 10.30am.

How to get there: from junction 10 of the M56 take the A49 north (signposted 'Warrington'). Take the first left (B5356, signposted 'Daresbury'). In Hatton village turn right, signposted to Walton. At a crossroads turn right into Park Lane; a free carpark is on the left before the reservoir. There is unrestricted but unofficial carparking on the verge opposite if the carpark is full.

GR: SJ598843, postcode: WA4 5LH

Map: OS Explorer 276 Bolton, Wigan & Warrington

Look forward to seeing you there.