Walking in the footsteps of a giant. A photo gallery.
October 25th, 2022
Author: Chris Conder
Posted In: Latest news
This week we have had a visitor from B4SH, the network in the Surrey Hills which Walter started a few years ago. Sadly, Walter died earlier this year, but his boots and his memory lives on, and his daughter Anneli has been here retracing some of his footsteps. In his actual boots. We have not been able to get round the whole of the network but we have been to a few of the places where he came up to help the community. The photos below are a small sample of what Anneli was able to see on her visit and meet some of the champions and take tea. For those who never met him, Walter was an avid B4RN supporter and our very first shareholder.
Anneli arrives at her accommodation high up on the fells to be greeted by a sunset and Sheena’s Geese
Day 1, Walters boots, on Anneli’s feet, stood where he stood on a very snowy day, blowing fibre to Lowgill.
Walter on the blowing team, with fibrethedog, catching the sponge in the snow
Day 2. A visit to the Keasden cabinet by the church
Keasden Head, to Sheila’s for tea and cake, and a visit to the schoolroom where amazing classes are run. A particularly long ‘interesting’ and challenging dig to a very remote location which the local volunteers are rightly proud of.
Keasden Head classroom with a view.
Brunch at a local cafe, The Old Saw Mill, with local champions John and Di, Simon Ann and John.
The Old Saw Mill Cafe.
Walter taking a photo at the Hearse House
Anneli stands in the same spot. At the Hearse House.
Anneli takes the same photo that Walter took.
Day 3, arriving to be greeted by fibrethdog and megabit, and a rainbow for another tour.
Up to Jubilee Tower, to meet Barry (the genius founder of B4RN and Allen the Dolphinholme champ on the site of the first dig day, March 31st 2012 where Walter met hundreds of volunteers. With spades. Anneli is holding Walters wooden award spade.
Walter in the line on the day of the spades. The first dig day.
Lunch at the B4RN office, and meeting some of the staff and champions who knew Walter. Great to see Bruce the blow, Paul, Jim Carl and Tom. The cake was ace.
Walter and the volunteers at work in the Herb Gardens at Arkholme
The volunteers at Arkholme show Anneli where her dad helped dig the chamber.
Off to Barbon where Will was connecting a new customer to the network. And to see how things get done.
Bullet done, so just to patch now.
Oh happy day. The little light comes on when the customer is patched in.
Well done Anneli. He’ll be tickled pink. xoxox
Customer Testimonial
We’re award winners!
