Manchester Pedestrian Club Saturday Walking Around Greater Manchester - Courtesy and Companionship

MPC Walks 1929

Given are the walk number and date, the name of the walk, its leader, and length. This is followed by starting time and location, and route details. After the table is the Secretary's Report of the major walks of the year.

Full list of MPC walks is available on separate page.

Secretary's Report

The aggregate activity of the Club and that of some members in particular, has caused the Hon. Walks Convener to delve into the records of the past, from which research emerges the fact that the mileage of 1929 has overtopped that of any previous year in the twenty-six years of the Club's existence, and that the Cup Winner has drunk more deeply of distance than any previous holder.

To Pond, with his fine figures of 888 miles and his 100% possible our heartiest congratulations are given and a further pleasure is in the thought that, although a short time ago we had to commiserate with him upon undergoing an operation, his present achievement testifies to his complete restoration to health and fitness. Major Halstead, the Runner-up, is comparatively a new member of the Club, but he is an old and enthusiastic sportsman who has graduated through cycling and cross-country running to walking, and has excelled in them, all. With the old blood running strongly, and with new vigour such as his, the life and efiort of the Club will continue unimpaired.

The Easter Walk this year was at Matlock Bath where Bowen, with Kronig as Joint Leader, gave the 11 members who took part, an enjoyable week-end among the beauties of the Peak. If mention is made of the fact that the hotel where the party stayed was destroyed by fire on the night of Easter Monday, it is also recorded that no suspicion attaches itself to them as they had left early in the morning. A chronicle of the outing written by Harcourt Willson appeared in the City Nexs.

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The Whit-Week Walk was noteworthy in that it was a repetition of the Manchester to London Walk undertaken by the Club twenty-five years' previously, although the rout [sic.] of this year's effort was different and more pleasantly diversified. Planned by Edwards, whose active participation was thwarted by the thoughtless want of tact by a Government who fixed upon Whit-week as a suitable time for a General Election, his staff work in the arrangements of the route and tranport, was of that high effectiveness of the which he has the secret, and in Witte, as active leader of the party, he had an assistant equally competent in his uork. Splendid weather mostly favoured the expcdition and the eight members taking part all covered the distance with ease and comfort, and even like Oliver Twist, looked round for more. Torres, who had taken part in the 1904 Walk, was chosen to act as scribe and narrator, which office he carried out with his usual enthusiasm, describing the events of the road, the scenery, and some natural history, in true Torresian vein, as may be found in the pages of the City News.

Relevant to this Walk, we would place upon record our further thanks to Edwards for his gift to the Club Collection of Maps, of the 1" maps used upon the Occasion.

The Lakes Walk had its Headquarters again at Coniston, nine members taking part with Harcourt Willson as Leader, assisted by Witte. The weather this year made large amends for that of 1928 and an enjoyable time was spent, though not of so strenuous a nature as in some previous years. The Leader added to his duties that also of scribe and contributed to the City News a short account of the outing.

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Of the usual weekly walks, much of the old favourite ground has been covered, with slight extensions in Cheshire, Lancashire and Staifordshire, the appreciation being always renewed as the return to a well-loved book ever gives us fresh delights and new pleasure.

Of our Pre51dent, James, one may say without irreverence, that since the day when in 1912, he joined the Club, swathed in the garments and habits of city conventionalism, we have watched with interest and admiration his gradual emancipation and his attainment of his present sporting freedom. He has a great spirit, somewhat held down by his physical limitations, but eager and willing to do to the utmost. To behold him topping the hill, panting and triumphant, suggests always that scene in "The Lady of the Lake," when, after his combat with Roderick Dhu, we read: '

"Unwounded from the dreadful close
But breathless all, Fitzjames rose."

In his conduct of the executive affairs of the Club, he has shewn that exactitude of mind acquired in long practice in finance, whilst, in happy contradiction, his enthusiasm has sometimes led him to the advocacy of courses too advanced for the more conservatively minded members.

He has added another name to the Roll of worthy Presidents.

Our usual support has been accorded to the Peak District Footpaths Preservation Society and to the Ramblers' Federation. The National Conference for the Preservation of the Countryside met this year.

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in Manchester and was attended by Delegates from the Club, and also by members in their private capacity and in view of the place of Meeting, the donation from the Club was increased from One Guinea to Two Guineas.

Donations like this latter represent the compromise between two schools of thought existing in the Club, the one holding that a Club of our standing should give a general and reasonable support to appeals for objects appertaining to Walking, such as the acquisition of properties under the National Trust, the preservation of the amenities of the Countryside and such like, while the other school, interpreting our constitution more rigidly would restrict our out-goings to more narrowly defined limits, conserving our resources against some Dies Irae or some possible financial cataclysm either in the afiairs of the Club or in some Society deemed more specially akin to us. There are many minds and many opinions.

We are sorry that Ward has not found himself able to continue with the Secretaryship more than one year as we had hoped for his extended tenure of that office. For his effective labours, the thanks of all the members are warmly given. To his work as Walks Convenor, Hitchon has bravely added that of the Secretary. The Club already owes much to Hitchon and its debt will be now increased. From our long knowledge of him and his capacity for work, we know that the duties will be carried out thoroughly and effectively, and we assure him that he can rely upon the co-operation of us all.

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In membership, we have to regret the resignation of Bardsley, a member from 1907. When resident in Manchester, he was a most active and appreciated member but removal to Colwyn Bay weakened, and has now snapped the chain of his connection. We welcome back as a member, Martin, who left us in 1921, and as new recruits, Hodgkinson, who has already established a reputation as a satirical poet, and Clarke, all of whom add strength and ability to the Club.

To conclude, in a Club which, in its 26th year and containing many members of old standing, can yet beat all its previous records, there can be but one feeling, that of confidence in the future. The pedestrian power is strong amongst us --- joined hand in hand with a true club spirit of fellowship, as suggested by our motto, the future stretches before us in unnumbered leagues of achievement, awaiting us.

ROBERT SMALLEY.

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