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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| A tale of two walks | A tale of two walks |
| (4 months later) | |
| Tuesday morning, and I was off to Edale, for the launch of the 80th anniversary celebrations of the the mass trespass of Kinder Scout. | Tuesday morning, and I was off to Edale, for the launch of the 80th anniversary celebrations of the the mass trespass of Kinder Scout. |
| The Guardian was well represented at the event. Our much missed former colleague David Ward turned up, along with northern editor Martin Wainwright and a brace of country diarists, mountain legend Jim Perrin and Ed Douglas who took over from the late Roger Redfern on the Derbyshire beat. | The Guardian was well represented at the event. Our much missed former colleague David Ward turned up, along with northern editor Martin Wainwright and a brace of country diarists, mountain legend Jim Perrin and Ed Douglas who took over from the late Roger Redfern on the Derbyshire beat. |
| After the launch, Martin had copy to write, but David joined me and a pal for a ramble up Grindsbrook. Fairly short-your correspondent is recovering from an operation, so a serious walk was out of the question. | After the launch, Martin had copy to write, but David joined me and a pal for a ramble up Grindsbrook. Fairly short-your correspondent is recovering from an operation, so a serious walk was out of the question. |
| If my love for those hills ever needed re-kindling, Tuesday was the perfect day to do it.The clouds were on the move, so every time we stopped to stand and admire the views to Mam Tor, a different feast met our eyes.Then the sun poked through; bliss. | If my love for those hills ever needed re-kindling, Tuesday was the perfect day to do it.The clouds were on the move, so every time we stopped to stand and admire the views to Mam Tor, a different feast met our eyes.Then the sun poked through; bliss. |
| Some good speeches too, reminding us that our access to this wonderland came at a price and that, if it was up to 'them' we would still be barred from tramping the hills, deprived of breathing the heady air flowing through these lungs of the industrial north. | Some good speeches too, reminding us that our access to this wonderland came at a price and that, if it was up to 'them' we would still be barred from tramping the hills, deprived of breathing the heady air flowing through these lungs of the industrial north. |
| I was reminded of the attitude of 'them' not so long ago. | I was reminded of the attitude of 'them' not so long ago. |
| I live in Gorton, east Manchester, once a great spoke of the industrial wheel that rolled through the 19th and 20th century. | I live in Gorton, east Manchester, once a great spoke of the industrial wheel that rolled through the 19th and 20th century. |
| It came to a halt in the 1960s and Gorton is something of a wasteland now. But there are visual pleasures to be found nearby. Debdale Park and the the two reservoirs that lie behind it are easy on the eye and a fine place to walk my dogs. An old thoroughfare, Kings Road, links Hyde Road, the A-57 and Audenshaw. Walking down it, you could be in the countryside, far from urban Manchester. | It came to a halt in the 1960s and Gorton is something of a wasteland now. But there are visual pleasures to be found nearby. Debdale Park and the the two reservoirs that lie behind it are easy on the eye and a fine place to walk my dogs. An old thoroughfare, Kings Road, links Hyde Road, the A-57 and Audenshaw. Walking down it, you could be in the countryside, far from urban Manchester. |
| Two golf clubs lie either side of this road, Fairfield, on the Audenshaw side, and Denton to the east. Often, when the courses are quiet, I will take my dogs on them. It's a grand stroll,along the edges of the greens and fairways, some fine trees border the reservoirs and, of course, the not-too distant Pennines are always in sight. | Two golf clubs lie either side of this road, Fairfield, on the Audenshaw side, and Denton to the east. Often, when the courses are quiet, I will take my dogs on them. It's a grand stroll,along the edges of the greens and fairways, some fine trees border the reservoirs and, of course, the not-too distant Pennines are always in sight. |
| Note, I say the 'edge' of the fairways and greens. I would not dream of letting my dogs disturb a game, or damage the well-kept greens and bunkers. Fairfield has always been known as an artisans club, with no side about it; and in the many years I have enjoyed walking the course, I have never had so much as a black look from players, let alone a telling off for being on, what is after all, private property. | Note, I say the 'edge' of the fairways and greens. I would not dream of letting my dogs disturb a game, or damage the well-kept greens and bunkers. Fairfield has always been known as an artisans club, with no side about it; and in the many years I have enjoyed walking the course, I have never had so much as a black look from players, let alone a telling off for being on, what is after all, private property. |
| Denton on the other hand, seems to have airs and graces and, over the years, I have had a few altercations over my presence on their playground. Thus it was a short while back. There I was, drinking in the air and the view, minding my own business and with both dogs on a lead. A foursome came along; the first two nodded as they passed, but one of the remainder stopped and asked me if I knew this was "private land"? "Private to whom?" I enquired. "To the members of course" he replied. "Well," I said, "I am a member-of the human race - so why don't you get on with your game and me and my dogs will get on with our lives." | Denton on the other hand, seems to have airs and graces and, over the years, I have had a few altercations over my presence on their playground. Thus it was a short while back. There I was, drinking in the air and the view, minding my own business and with both dogs on a lead. A foursome came along; the first two nodded as they passed, but one of the remainder stopped and asked me if I knew this was "private land"? "Private to whom?" I enquired. "To the members of course" he replied. "Well," I said, "I am a member-of the human race - so why don't you get on with your game and me and my dogs will get on with our lives." |
| I thought he wanted to take the discussion further, but then he looked at my dogs. One, Bodger, is an English Bull Terrier, soft as marzipan, but looks the part. So he thought better of it and went on his way. | I thought he wanted to take the discussion further, but then he looked at my dogs. One, Bodger, is an English Bull Terrier, soft as marzipan, but looks the part. So he thought better of it and went on his way. |
| Sad though isn't it? And I could just imagine this guy as one of the lackey gamekeepers, who set about Benny Rothman and his band those eighty years ago. The woods are still full of wardens. | Sad though isn't it? And I could just imagine this guy as one of the lackey gamekeepers, who set about Benny Rothman and his band those eighty years ago. The woods are still full of wardens. |
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