Pilgrims from a few year’s back will remember Isaac who walked with us over several years either side of 2010 (and will recall his sparring with Peter Doran). Isaac has sent the following request for support for a charitable venture he is undertaking…

Hello pilgrims past and present, 

This summer, starting from the second weekend of July, I shall be walking the 800km of the Camino de Santiago, starting from Saint-Jean-Pied-du-Port, to raise money for a charity with whom I volunteer in Paris. This organisation, Utopia 56, works to support refugees and other displaced people in France in a political climate that is otherwise indifferent at best and outright hostile at worst– especially as in Paris the forces of the state move with brutal rapidity to ‘clear the city’ in the run up to the Olympic Games. We offer advice on applications for asylum, French lessons, recreational activities and, most importantly, tents and other materials.

These are people who have travelled thousands of miles in perilous conditions, and who are thrown from pillar to post upon arrival in what they believe will be a safe haven. In making a pilgrimage along the Camino, I hope to, at least symbolically and spiritually, walk with those who make much more dangerous and urgent journeys to safety. Any donations would be deeply appreciated, with the proceeds going to support the work that Utopia 56 does. 

You can make a donation at this link here: https://macollecte.utopia56.org/fundraisers/on-the-road-to-santiago

You can find out more information about Utopia 56 here (in English or in French): https://utopia56.org

Thank you very much in advance.

Yours, in pilgrimage, 

Isaac 

Our accommodation team have done sterling work and halls are booked for all of our 2024 pilgrimage from Worcester to Peterborough via Coventry. So it’s time to start planning the walking routes between those halls, for which we need volunteers!

If you would like to plan a day’s walk on the pilgrimage, please let me know as soon as possible. I have a few names already, but don’t assume you are on my list!

The list of days is shown below. The shaded days are already allocated. You can express a preference for day or area, but it’s not guaranteed.

Most days are similar in length (12-15 miles) but the days either side of Market Harborough are likely to be shorter.

If you’ve not planned a pilgrimage day before, you may like to team up with an experienced planner first time around.

If you’re a regular route planner but ant a year off, let me know so I wont hassle you further!

Any questions, do get in touch.

Aidan

Date	From	To
Sun 11th	Worcester	Inkberrow
Mon 12th	Inkberrow	Henley-in-Arden
Tues 13th	Henley-in-Arden	Warwick
Weds 14th or Thurs 15th	Warwick	Coventry
Fri 16th	Coventry	Rugby
Sat 17th	Rugby	Husbands Bosworth
Sun 18th	Husbands Bosworth	Market Harborough
Tues 20th	Market Harborough	Hallaton
Weds 21st	Hallaton	Oakham
Thurs 22nd	Oakham	Stamford
Fri 23rd	Stamford	Peterborough

We have learnt of the death this week of Henriette Van Zaelen; she was suffering from lung cancer.

Henriette has walked with us for many years; she was also an active member (with other pilgrims) of the St Francis Ramblers.

Further to my earlier post, Fr David’s funeral will be held at 12 noon on Friday 28 April 2023 at St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Magdalen Rd, St Leonards-on-Sea TN37 6ET.

I added some additional photos after posting the original notice, so you may like to revisit that post

We have recently learnt of the death of Father David Russell, pilgrimage chaplain from 2000 to 2017.

Father David was a “late vocation” and worked (as a teacher (I think) before training at the Beda College in Rome. On ordination in1978 he was appointed curate at St Joan of Arc, Farnham (the “cradle” of our A&B pilgrimages). Fr David joined us on the Pilgrims Way Pilgrimage in 1976, and then on the 2nd Canterbury Pilgrimage in 1979. I can visualise him walking through the forest near Benenden in Kent but the earliest photo I can find is in the procession to Arundel Cathedral at the end of that pilgrimage.

Fr David also took part in the 1980 St Joan of Arc Pilgrimage, a spin off from our pilgrimage, to celebrate the Farnham church’s golden jubilee.

Fr David had various posting around the Diocese, including St Leonards on Sea, but eventually settled in a flat in Portslade from where he supplied other parishes, often taking up residence for a number of weeks while the parish priest was away. Despite several attempts, David never passed his driving test (on the final attempt his car was driven into on the way to the test centre) so getting to these parishes made him an expert in train and bus travel.

In 2000 Fr David re-joined the pilgrimage as Chaplain, and served in that role until 2017. He strove to balance the needs of an Ecumenical pilgrimage and the rules of the Church, pushing the boundaries and getting his knuckles rapped more than once. He felt able to take risks to best serve his “mobile parish”. It didn’t always work, but David was genuine in his efforts to minister to the pilgrims,

During his time as chaplain Fr David was less and less able to walk with the pilgrims, and joined the support team, hitching a ride with the van, caterers or drinks car. He was the instigator of the group that played Scrabble in the evenings whilst others went to the pub (Fr David had given up alcohol at this stage).

Following a nasty fire in his flat in Portslade, Fr David moved to a convent in Littlehampton. Having lost his address book in the fire he rather lost touch with people, but was always interested to hear about the pilgrimage and the pilgrims.

Funeral details are yet to be announced.

May he rest in peace.

We are saddened to report the death of Debbie Ellis (née Davies) on 25 February 2023.

Debbie became instantly famous on her first pilgrimage in 1980 when she lost a contact lens on the lawn at Midhurst Convent and had the whole pilgrimage searching for it (in vain).

Debbie participated in several pilgrimages in the early 1980s and continued to drop in for several years, as well as being part of several pilgrim-centric groups (e.g. the boat trips).

Debbie’s funeral will be on 29th March at 4.15pm at Leatherhead Crematorium (Randall’s Park). Debbie requested bright colours only, as she wishes it to be a happy celebration of her life .

A get together to celebrate her life will be held at The Blue Ball pub
Walton on the Hill directly after.

May she rest in peace.