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Cambridgeshire March marchers marching 'for no reason' Cambridgeshire March marchers marching 'for no reason'
(about 11 hours later)
Keen walkers are attempting to revive interest in the tongue-in-cheek "tradition" of marching en masse around a county "for no particular reason".Keen walkers are attempting to revive interest in the tongue-in-cheek "tradition" of marching en masse around a county "for no particular reason".
The March March march involves people marching from the Cambridgeshire town of March during the month of March.The March March march involves people marching from the Cambridgeshire town of March during the month of March.
Thought up by a Cambridge University mathematician in 1979, numbers have dwindled from a high of 27 marchers to this year's meagre four.Thought up by a Cambridge University mathematician in 1979, numbers have dwindled from a high of 27 marchers to this year's meagre four.
Organisers are hopeful of bolstering numbers before it dies out completely.Organisers are hopeful of bolstering numbers before it dies out completely.
Back in the 70s, Jonathan Partington, a member of the university's pure maths department "saw the town of March, put the links together and said, let's do this walk", Colin Bell, this year's organiser, said.Back in the 70s, Jonathan Partington, a member of the university's pure maths department "saw the town of March, put the links together and said, let's do this walk", Colin Bell, this year's organiser, said.
"Then they did it again, and as these things do, it became a tradition.""Then they did it again, and as these things do, it became a tradition."
According to the march's website, "the March March march is a long, flat, pointless walk across the Fens from the town of March to Cambridge, a distance of about 30 miles".According to the march's website, "the March March march is a long, flat, pointless walk across the Fens from the town of March to Cambridge, a distance of about 30 miles".
"It has no purpose other than to be called the March March march" and was "invented because it seemed like a good idea at the time.""It has no purpose other than to be called the March March march" and was "invented because it seemed like a good idea at the time."
What's what in MarchWhat's what in March
Highlights of the route include "lots of gnomes in Doddington" and "an interesting ice skating sculpture at Earith", Mr Bell said. Highlights of the route include "lots of gnomes in Doddington" and "an interesting ice skating sculpture at Earith," Mr Bell said.
"Sometimes we sing to pass the time. There's a song called the March March March March - but it isn't really a march. It's Frère Jacques with various place names inserted.""Sometimes we sing to pass the time. There's a song called the March March March March - but it isn't really a march. It's Frère Jacques with various place names inserted."
The March March March March song (to the tune of Frère Jacques)The March March March March song (to the tune of Frère Jacques)
"Wimblington, Doddington,"Wimblington, Doddington,
Chatteris, Crafty Fox,Chatteris, Crafty Fox,
Somersham and Earith,Somersham and Earith,
Willingham and Girton,Willingham and Girton,
March March march!March March march!
March March march!"March March march!"
(and so on)(and so on)
Some years the march simply has not happened at all when no-one turned up. Other marches have been cut short by natural phenomena.Some years the march simply has not happened at all when no-one turned up. Other marches have been cut short by natural phenomena.
"We got caught in the Fen Blow once and had to give up near Chatteris," Mr Bell said."We got caught in the Fen Blow once and had to give up near Chatteris," Mr Bell said.
The Cambridge University tradition is, he fears, in danger of dying out as people associated with it get older or move away.The Cambridge University tradition is, he fears, in danger of dying out as people associated with it get older or move away.
"I think it's a joke that's gone a bit too far... but there are enough mad people out there to properly revive the tradition," he added."I think it's a joke that's gone a bit too far... but there are enough mad people out there to properly revive the tradition," he added.
Barring blisters or more Fen Blows, the marchers expect to finish this year's trek at about 20:00 GMT in Histon, just outside the city.Barring blisters or more Fen Blows, the marchers expect to finish this year's trek at about 20:00 GMT in Histon, just outside the city.