This evening at Caldbeck Parish Hall, Cumbria to attend an illustrated talk by the mountaineer and author Simon Yates called ‘The Wild Within’
It’s my first visit to the hall and I’m sure it’s the biggest projection screen I’ve seen.
 

Simon Yates

Caldbeck Parish Hall

Rivington Pike Tower at an altitude of 363m (1,191ft) dated 1733

Tonight is the last night of Rivington Pike being illuminated with lights of varying colours I wanted to photograph it so mid evening drove to the car park near Moses Cocker’s farm and walked up the rough track by the Pigeon Tower and up to the Pike. The weather was dark, low cloud and some slight drizzle as I walked up. The final approach was very windy and I wasn’t sure if the tripod would be firm enough so I took several photos on the summit and also from the steps.
The lights have been switched on during the evenings for the last two weeks and the project was the idea of Chorley Council. I found it very amusing reading the negative comments in the local press by Horwich representatives.
One quote said “The Mayor of Horwich has slammed Chorley Council for ‘hijacking’ Rivington Pike as part of a publicity stunt, without consulting the town’s residents.”
So let’s examine the facts. Checking the map shows Rivington Pike to be in Chorley and not Horwich. So it’s none of their business.
Another quote goes as follows:

“Cllr Christine Root said she thinks Horwich residents will be ‘absolutely outraged’ to see the Chorley stamp on the Grade-II listed building. She said: “The bottom line is I just don’t get it. I’m not sure what they are trying to do.”
Let’s check the facts again. When I was on site there was no Chorley stamp anywhere so people have no idea who’s organised it. I thought it looked wonderful and if the Horwich Councillor who said ‘I just don’t get it’ would probably not understand the technique of floodlighting to promote anything. The truth is fairly obvious to me. Jealousy.

The view outside Moses Cocker’s Farm, Rivington Road, Rivington,
exactly one year ago today.

The same location a few of days ago. It's the same today.

Early afternoon drove to White Coppice then went for walk via the goit and back over Stronstrey Bank. The path from White Coppice to the Waterman’s Cottage was very wet in places due to bad design. It was quite sunny but the wind kept the temperature down.

Muddy path on the way to
the Waterman's Cottage.

Unfinished Millstone above White Coppice Quarries

Late morning walked to Withnell Fold via Top o’ th’ Lane. Ten members of the Withnell Fold Sports and Social Club walking group set off at 1pm for a countryside exploration lead by Dean. We left the Cricket field and headed up the lane to Oakmere Avenue and over Pike Lowe. Over the summit the path was quit wet in places but the weather was generally good with sunshine. Down Bury Lane we turned left into Pleasant View for a short way then down the wooden steps to join the path along the route of the old Chorley - Cherry Tree Railway.

Wicker engine

 Under one of the bridges some wicker sculptures had been created. One was the front of a steam engine. Back on the main A675 road in Abbey Village we turned left then right at Edge End Farm to head towards the old Biffa rubbish site. I believe it now generates gas from underground. We didn’t go up to the old Stanworth Farm but continued under the M65 motorway and across fields to a bridge over the Leeds and Liverpool canal. This is where we took the group photo before continuing along the canal back to Withnell Fold. Back at the club house Audrey had made her usual spread of food for all the weary walkers. We covered just over 7 miles.

Group photo on the canal bridge

Dean's group photo with his camera on a mini-pod

Refreshments back at the club

Vertical profile of the track

During a cycle ride over from Belmont to Rivington I was treated to this moody evening view of the sunset after recent rain. Unfortunately the rain returned with a vengeance plus stinging hail thrown in.

Near Ben More Assynt in the Scottish Highlands is a new grave marker to the crew of a crashed Avro Anson Mk I twin-engine multi-role aircraft that crashed in April 1941. Three of the crew of six survived the crash but died of exposure. Their bodies were found 6 weeks later wrapped in their parachutes. Due to the remoteness and difficulties in retrieval all 6 were buried at the crash site, the only time that occurred in Scotland.

Sunrise on my last day. The cross is a memorial. It is to previous pupils of St. Giles’ later Canongate Boys Club Edinburgh who died in the second world war. And also to Rev Right of the same club who enjoyed many camping trips with them at this very spot. The wonderful quote was ‘Goodnight Sir see you in the morning’ It was special knowing I was camping on the same spot they all enjoyed such happy times.

A pleasant sunny day was ideal to catch the train to Hebden Bridge and
walk over Stoodley Pike.

Hebden Bridge and the Rochdale Canal

Hebden Bridge Railway Station c1900
Thanks to  Friends of Hebden Bridge Station for the photo.

Lady workers at Sowerby Bridge.
Thanks to  Friends of Hebden Bridge Station
for the photo

Stoodley Pike

Thanks to  Friends of Hebden Bridge Station
for the photo.

l to r: Jamie Carson, Stewart Clewlow, Barry Lowe, Bill Walker,
David Tetlow, Cllr Alistair Bradley.

Evening at Chorley Town Hall for meeting to discuss possible future premises for the Chorley Heritage Support Group. A lot of archive material has already been collected and is now in store. To promote Chorley and its heritage suitable premises are urgently needed. The meeting was with CHCSG and senior members of Chorley Council. We are not there yet, but a lot nearer than at the start of the meeting. It was interesting to note that the meeting room had large images of old Chorley on the walls.

A sunny afternoon cycle ride.
Coronation Cottages and Coronation House. Withnell Coronation Celebration Hospital 1902, Buckholes Lane near St John’s School Brinscall. Opened in 1902 to celebrate the accession of King Edward VII it was mostly funded by the Parke of Withnell. Over the years it has been an isolation hospital a school an employment exchange and back to a hospital during Word War 2. The buildings are now private dwellings.

Out for a sunny cycle ride early afternoon. After photographic Coronation Hospital I was over Belmont where I photographed Joe Taylor of Leyland and his wonderfully restored Austin Seven, which is now 80 years old.

I saw this lovely picture on Twitter this morning. It says it all.

Late morning called at Vaughn’s County Café at Tockholes with Steve. We just got there in time as just after we arrived the place soon filled up. Being out in the country it’s always popular with cyclists. They also have free Wi-Fi.
 

Today is the 10th anniversary of the last ‘Letter from America’ by Alistair Cooke (1908-2004). He was one of my favourite broadcasters and 95 years old when he read his last letter to us. He died later in the same month.

Alistair Cooke (1908-2004)
Photo from Wikipedia

Faraday Lecture Theatre, Lancaster University.

Professor David Shotter.
On his birthday

One of Dot Boughton's excellent illustrations