The Mayor of Malmesbury is putting his best foot forward this summer, and walking from Malmesbury to Kingston upon Thames, as part of the 1100th anniversary celebrations of Athelstan becoming King of Wessex and Mercia. Last year Malmesbury, where Athelstan is buried, marked his nomination as king; this year Kingston is highlighting his coronation.
The Mayor Cllr Stephen James is leading the walk, extending the route of the Athelstan Pilgrim Way – a network of footpaths and cycleways across North Wiltshire – for the event to Kingston, where Athelstan was crowned.
The130-mile walk starts from Malmesbury Abbey at 10am on August 18, and will take eleven days finishing at All Saints Church in Kingston at 10:30am on September 4, the 1100th anniversary of Athelstan’s coronation ceremony The walkers will be transporting a crown with them as a symbol of the event.
The route pass through Cricklade, Lechlade, Newbridge, Abingdon, Wallingford, Henley, Bourne End, Windsor, Chertsey, Hampton Court, and finally Kingston.
While Cllr James and others are walking the entire route, everyone is welcome to join in for as much or as little of the walk as they wish.
Cllr James hopes along the way to raise funds for his Mayoral charities – HEALS and Malmesbury & District Food Bank.
“The walk seems an excellent way to mark the occasion of King Athelstan’s coronation, and the route will take in many Anglo Saxon settlements along the historic border of Wessex and Mercia and the Great West Way modern tourist trail which links London, Kingston, Windsor, Malmesbury and the West Country,” said Cllr James, who is a keen walker, and a member of Malmesbury Jackdaws Running Club.
“Walking 130 miles in 11 days is a challenge but it is something I knew I wanted to do when I was elected Mayor of Malmesbury. As well as the opportunity to represent Malmesbury on the walk I am also excited and very appreciative of the welcome we are being offered by many civic colleagues I will be meeting as we pass through their towns, and on the last leg – from Hampton Court to Kingston – the Kingston Mayor Cllr Noel Hadjimichael and Bishop of Kingston Martin Gainsborough will be joining in.”
In conjunction with the walk, there will be an Athelstan 1100 Pilgrim Way cycle ride, taking place on September 3 and 4, from Malmesbury to Kingston. The aim is for the cyclists to arrive at the same time as the walkers.
Both the walk and the cycle ride offer a unique opportunity to explore the rich historical landscape that closely follows the Great West Way – a touring route between London and Bristol.
The walk is being organised by Malmesbury’s Athelstan 1100 team (led by Malmesbury Town Team and supported by Malmesbury Town Council), the North Wiltshire Athelstan Pilgrim Way team and Kingston upon Thames’ Athelstan Coronation team.
More about both the walk and the cycle ride are available at https://www.athelstan1100.co.uk/, with a breakdown of the route and distances being completed each day.
There is no fee to take part in the walk, although Cllr James is hoping for donations to be made to his charities, and walkers and cyclists are also being encouraged to seek sponsors.
To register interest in participating in either event, email hello@athelstan1100.co.uk.
Cricklade: Civic element on Day 2 departure (Tues 19th August): 9:15am to 10:00am on Day 2 – 19th August. Mark Clarke, Chair of Cricklade Town Council plus Vice Chair and Cricklade Town Crier – St Sampson’s Church, Cricklade, SN6 6AT.
Lechlade: Meeting with Cllr Nigel Jones, who is deputising for the Mayor, Cllr Stephen Trotter. 4.30pm, August 19th, Ha’penny Bridge.
Abingdon: Meeting with Mayor of Abingdon Cllr Rawda Jehanli. 5.45pm, August 21st, Abbey Close (Car Park). OX14 3JE.
Wallingford: Meeting with the Mayor of Wallingford Cllr Ros Lester, 6pm August 22nd, Cattle Market Car Park, Wallingford. OX14 3JE.
Henley: Meeting with the Mayor of Henley-on Thames Cllr Tom Buckley, 4.30pm August 26th, St Mary’s Church
Bourne End: To be finalised, 5.30pm August 27th
Windsor: Meeting with the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Councillor Mrs Mandy Brar, 5pm September 1st, Windsor Bridge
Chertsey Bridge: Meeting with the Mayor of Runnymede, Cllr Margaret Harnden, 5.30pm 2nd September, Chertsey Bridge
Kingston upon Thames: Meeting with the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston on Thames Councillor Noel Hadjimichael and other dignitaries, 10.30am 4th September, All Saints Church, Kingston. KT1 1JP
Article by Jo Smyth, Word Worker
