A number of members of the Cornwall Branch IPA met in Fowey on Cornwall's south coast on a bracing Spring day and undertook what has come to be known as 'Wilf's Walk' with the event being organised by branch member, Wilf Rickard.
Fowey, or Fowydh in Cornish which means 'Beech Trees', is a very ancient trading port and greatly expanded when the locally sourced china clay was brought here for export in times gone by.
The town has been the inspiration for many authors, including Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch ('Q'), Daphne du Maurier, Leo Walmsley and Kenneth Grahame and has many modern celebrity residents such as Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan and Dawn French who paid around £2 million in October 2006 for a mansion at Fowey's Readymoney Cove, Gloria Hunniford and former 'Blue Peter' presenter Janet Ellis.
A group of privateers known as the 'Fowey Gallants' were given licence to seize French vessels during the Hundred Years' War but the walkers, although gallant without doubt, did not participate in any form of piracy as they crossed the river by local ferry to Polruan, the ancient fishing village just across the water just in time for a large lunch in the pub!
Whether the four mile or so walk was sufficient to use up the energy generated by the meal is quite another question although the day was very much enjoyed by one and all.
Branch member Andy Hamilton said, "It was good fun and we were very lucky with the weather. Thanks for organising Marilyn and Wilf and the recce they did to make sure it was all in order. We are looking forward to the next one for sure!"
Mike Chappell
IPA Member 107984
Cornwall Branch
