Wednesday, 21 October 2009

Whatever happened to Bill Hucknall ?

There's a small car park on the Southwell Trail in Nottinghamshire between Edlington and Kirklington. You can easily get away from the crowds there. I did on Sunday ...

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

A short distance from the car park a path runs down the side of Edingley Beck towards Edingley itself ...

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

Like so many other places it looks as though dog owners haven't been keeping their dogs under control ...

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

Or perhaps the notice is there so that Nottinghamshire County Council's efforts to encourage wildflife won't be scuppered ...

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

October probably isn't the best time to admire a six metre conservation strip but here it is anyway ...


Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

A couple of fields later and I was still walking beside Edingley Beck. The wood in the photo below is shown as a moat on the OS Map but when I got level with it I couldn't see much in the trees.

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

Edingley churchyard was quiet when I entered it but then aren't most villages generally. If anyone's about they're usually in a car, driving by ...

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

 Round the back of the church this stone caught my eye the last time we were here ...

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

I followed the path that runs west on the southern side of the village, passing this sign ...

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

I was walking towards Cotton Mill Farm, walking through these cows with their calves. Fortunately they didn't seem bothered by my presence. I'm so glad I don't have a dog though, if only for my own safety ...

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

On reaching Farnsfield I followed a narrow path that runs between houses to the Plough Inn ...

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

I love paths that run through villages like this.

I reached the Plough and then walked along The Ridgeway [not to be confused with The Ridgeway, of course] to join the Southwell Trail.

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

The Southwell Trail runs in a fairly straight line for the next one and a half miles. Sit back and enjoy the scenery ...



Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

The seats have been provided by Nottinghamshire County Council and have this carved into them ... 

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

Just before I got back to the car park, the sun came out a little more forcefully and looking back shafts of sunlight were shining through the leaves ...

Farnsfield and the Southwell Trail ~ 18th October 2009

I drove back to the Plough then and had a meal there ... three days later and I can't remember what it was. Still it was enjoyable as was the beer.

And Bill Hucknall ?  Well he is the only person I know who comes from Farnsfield. He lodged with our family 40 yards ago. He was a police cadet but we lost touch with him not long after he moved on. I've often wondered how his life went. He must be in his early 60s now. I can't imagine Bill being that age.

The woman behind the bar had obviously heard of Bill because all she said was I think he's moved from Farnsfield ...

It was a long shot ... but worth trying.

Date of walk ~ 18th October 2009


Length of walk ~ 4 miles.

Total since 1st September 2009 ~ 53 1/4 miles

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