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Colchester resident, Rosemary Jewers, will be walking almost 90 miles while tracing the route of the Peddars Way, a Roman Road which, her extensive research revealed, ran from Colchester to Holme next to Sea, Norfolk.

On 22nd September, 76 year old Rosemary and her walking companion, Rina Adams, will be leaving Balkerne Gate, Colchester, Essex, to walk to the north Norfolk coast. She will be trying to trace the ancient Roman route from Colchester, which joined the known Peddars Way which starts in Suffolk. Rosemary said, ‘I’ve been keen to follow up a story handed down through some four generations of my family, that Peddars Way ran between Colchester and the Norfolk coast. Having been born and raised in Little Massingham, Norfolk, this family story really resonated with me. While undertaking this 90 or so mile walk, I’m hoping to raise funds to help Little Massingham Church, Norfolk. All the money donated will go towards restoring the church roof after all the lead was stolen.’

The theft of the lead was devastating news for the parishioners and, as Patron of the church, Rosemary really wanted to help a small community raise the £150,000 needed to complete the refurbishment. Peddars Way passes through Little Massingham, not far from the church.

Until a year ago Rosemary was unable to walk a mile but over the last few months, following a strict training regime, she can now manage more everyday, some days she will be walking over thirteen miles.

Rosemary and Rina welcome the company of anyone wishing to join them as they trek along sections of this timeworn Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk route.

High Steward of Colchester, Sir Bob Russell, has offered to walk with them all the way to the Suffolk border. Rosemary said, ‘I really appreciate Sir Bob offering us his support and we hope it will be an inspiration to others to join us along the route.’

Rosemary went on to say, ‘Colchester people have been very generous and have already started to donate to help renovate this Norfolk parish church.’ She is hoping that many more people in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk will be able to help her to reach just over her £5000 target.

Rosemary and Rina were due to start their trek in April but COVID-19 came along so they had to postpone the event.

Lings Country Goods, Lynn Road, Gt Massingham, King’s Lynn PE32 2HJ have kindly offered to accept cash and cheque donations made payable to Rosemary Jewers. For those able to donate online she has a Just Giving page at: bit.ly/2wBvJS5

The blog site has a page on Rosemary’s research and will have more information about when and where they will be on certain days.

https://peddarswaycharitywalk.blogspot.com

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Marina (Rina) Adams, has volunteered to walk the full distance with Rosemary. Rina and Rosemary have known each other for more than twenty years and Rosemary’s late husband, Tony, was friends with both Rina and her husband, John, for much longer. Tony and John got to know each other when Tony was a freelance cameraman for Anglia TV and John was a photographer for the local newspapers and Photographic Manager for Essex County Newspapers.

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Date of leaving Colchester 22nd September. Meeting at Balkerne Gate, Colchester at 10 am departing 10.30 am.

Peddars Way Research link: https://peddarswaycharitywalk.blogspot.com/2020/04/my-research-locating-peddars-way.html

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