by Paul Velluet – Walks Organiser and Leader

The seven walks this year attracted significantly increasing numbers through May, June and July, and raised generous contributions towards the Society’s Landscaping Fund. In accordance with long-established tradition, each walk ended with convivial drinks and conversation at a local pub.

The series started in May with the customary introductory walk around the historic core of the town, followed, appropriately in this centenary year, by a walk focusing on sites, local people and military and charitable organisations associated with the Great War.

The visit to Richmond Parish Church led by Valerie Boyes and her well- researched talk on the extraordinary collection of 18th and 19th century memorials in the building attracted a good turn-out despite the appalling weather; as too, the fascinating walk she led to look at the delightful, carved cherubs’ heads on the elegant door-cases of diverse, 18th century houses around the town.

The walk focusing on post-War and modern architecture provided a useful opportunity to remind members of the real design quality of some of the town’s recent development; much of it recognised under the Society’s Awards scheme.

The two walks led by Phillippa Heath were very well attended. One was to sites associated with royal and other mistresses in Twickenham and St Margaret’s.

The other on the nurseries, market-gardens and allotments of Richmond (see photo); this included a particularly interesting visit to the Old Palace Lane allotments running along the side of the railway embankment behind The White Swan which was facilitated by Hilary Dennes, Secretary of the Allotments Society.

Thanks go to all those who contributed to the success of the series – our guides, Phillippa Heath of Reading University’s Museum of Rural Life, Valerie Boyes, local historian and immediate past-Chairman of the Museum of Richmond; those who opened-up various buildings, and to Adam Harrison who assisted in the organisation of the series.

Once again, members are invited to contribute ideas for themes for the next series of walks, and/or to lead walks themselves.