Backbone of England
Thursday, September 24th, 2009The third and final talk in a series organised for the South Pennine Walk & Ride Festival takes place tonight.
Author and journalist Andrew Bibby (below) will discuss his fantastic book Backbone of England (pub Frances Lincoln), at the Coach House in Littleborough, just a stone’s throw from the Pennine watershed which he walked over a lengthy period - a route that’s probably as close to the original vision for the Pennine Way that legendary access rights and footpath campaigner Tom Stephenson proposed back in the 1930s.
That the route is walkable today is only because we have new access rights bestowed by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. - if the water gatherers and grouse moor owners had their way, we’d still probably be banned from the watershed of our own country.
Andrew’s talk will be illustrated with images taken by photographer John Morrison, who’s travelling all the way from the Lake District to take part in tonight’s special event.
The talk starts at 7.30pm and will be held at the Coach House in Lodge Street, Littleborough, OL15 9AE (GR: SD938164).
The cost is a mere £3 and refreshments will be available.
The pic above shows Hebden Royd Town Mayor Coun John Beacroft Mitchell, author and tonight’s speaker Andrew Bibby, Pennine Prospects chair Pam Warhurst, myself, and Graham Joyce, head of Pennine Prospects, on behalf of whom I organise the South Pennines Walk & Ride Festival. The picture was taken at the festival launch in Hebden Bridge on September 12.
