©Kirton News 2010

A Roam Through Roman History:
Hadrian’s Wall National Trail

My £500 fund raising walk took place during 7th to 12th April 2010, when, together with an old Sleaford friend (Howard Sanders) I spent 6 days walking the 84 miles from Wallsend on Tyne, via Carlisle to Bowness on Solway, the full length of Hadrian’s Wall.

This route became a National Trail in May 2003. These are all well signposted, served by good guidebooks and also by internet walking sites. One of the latter is Sherpavan, which arranges baggage-transfer from door to door each walking day, and lists every available stopping place, B&B, and farmhouse accommodation etc.

It was from this website that we set about choosing places about 14 miles apart (to give us a walk of 6 days), and began making our bookings in January 2010.
So we started our journey thus: Train from Boston to Newcastle upon Tyne (Advance ticket with Senior railcard: £10-60 !) Spent first night in Hadrian Lodge hotel near the modern visitor centre of Segedunum, the excavated Roman fort at Wallsend on Tyne.
Our daily walking sequence then became: 15 to Heddon on the Wall (Houghton North Farm B & B), 17 to Chollerford (Greencarts Farm B & B), 11 to Steel Rigg ** (The Twice Brewed Inn), 14 to Banks ** (Scarrow Hill House B & B), 14 to Carlisle (Abberley House Hotel) and 15 to Bowness on Solway.

Here we were met by our wives who had driven up by car, and we all returned to the Carlisle hotel for the last night. The central two days (**) saw the best-preserved parts of the Wall and its Milecastles in the wildest and most spectacular scenery of the Northumbria National Park, and with the steepest ascents/descents. Apart from Tyneside and around Carlisle the Trail did follow most of the exact line of Hadrian’s Wall.

We were truly surprised about how successful this program was. Any long distance walk uses a lot of “fuel”, and our meals were superb. We set off each morning on The Full English Breakfast, and most days we bought packed lunches (essential for the “wilderness” days) otherwise on days 2 and 6 we had lunch at a welcoming pub. Our B&Bs were very friendly and comfortable, and either cooked us a filling evening meal or recommended the local pub.

We were both 66 years young and reasonably fit (Howard had played squash and golf; I had enjoyed road-running during the past 25 years)

But we trained very seriously over the winter with long walks on the sea bank MacMillan Way, the Viking Way and several 12 to 14 mile hilly yomps in the Wolds on rainy days! In early March I reached my target of being able to walk on three successive days without major discomfort (somewhat assisted by Ibuprofen…)

I fully expected us to encounter heavy rain and headwinds (April on Northern hills, walking Westwards…?) So you can imagine our great surprise at the unbelievably warm and dry weather during our walk. It never rained on us, and by day 4 we had packed away the cold/wet weather gear and walked in Tee shirts (plus sunblock cream). We encountered relatively little mud and my one small toe-blister, acquired on day 2, was successfully treated with Compeed!

Nevertheless we DID go fully prepared, and I carried 5kg in my daily rucksack comprising: water, coffee, food, waterproofs, spare warm clothes, guidebook, map, compass, whistle, GPS, first aid kits, camera, and mobile phone. An extra 10kg were moved on by courrier.

My decision to raise charity funds by this walk was prompted by my dear daughter-in-law who has very mild MS; and Howard was supporting his wife’s (Guillain-Barre Society) charity.
Back in 1989 I had raised about £400 for MS in Colchester by running the London Marathon (in 3hs 54 mins).

I am very grateful to the many neighbours and friends who have so generously contributed to this good cause, and especially to my wife’s Kirton Ladies’ Luncheon Club, Frampton WI, and Frampton Gardening Club.

Our Hadrians Wall Walk was a most enjoyable and memorable experience; I can’t wait to return and spend more time visiting the great Roman forts we passed on our tight schedule, like Housesteads, Vindolanda and Birdoswald. The absence of blossom and leafy trees in that April Northern landscape was offset by the abundance of energetic newborn lambs everywhere, and the Spring sunshine did cast an unforgettable golden glow over those rolling Northern hills, helping us to forget our aching legs.

Ray Harding

Gardening Tips for July

July is a time when you can sit back for a moment and enjoy the fruits of your labor in the garden. While there are still other ongoing tasks to perform in the garden, your primary concern will be assuring an ample supply of water for your plants.

Here are a few July gar.dening tasks and projects that you can do to help keep your garden looking it's best for the rest of this season.

Watering the Garden

The amount of water that your garden will need is going to depend on the weather conditions in your area. The primary rule of summer watering is to water thoroughly and deeply each time and to allow the soil dry out between waterings. Deep watering will allow the plant's roots to grow deeper, where they are less likely to dry out, as well as the added benefit of anchoring the plant into the ground better. Light, surface watering actually wastes water, because the water never actually reaches the root zone of the plant, and the moisture rapidly evaporates from the top inch of soil.

The best way to tell if your plants are receiving enough water is to take a trowel or shovel and dig down a few inches. The soil should be moist at least 3 or 4 inches deep to insure that the water is reaching the root zone of the plants. Of course, if you planted drought resistant plants in your garden, you won't have to water as often, but the principal of deep watering still applies. As the weather dries out, your container plants may need daily watering, especially if the pots are exposed to the drying sunlight. Push your finger into the soil in your container plantings at least once a day (more often on hot, dry days) to feel for moisture and be certain that plants are getting enough water. Apply water until it runs out the drainage holes.

Try to do your watering during the morning hours so that the leaves can dry off a bit before the hot sun hits them.

Evening watering is sometimes acceptable if the temperatures are warm enough to insure that foliage dries before the temperature drops at night. (Wet foliage makes plants more susceptible to fungus and disease.)

Perennials, Annuals and Bulbs

Continue to dead head (remove dead flowers) your annuals to encourage continued blooming. If your annuals have died off, pull them out and add them to the compost pile. Replant that spot with hardy annuals or perennials, such as Pansies, Calendulas, or Armeria.
Get a second bloom from faded annuals by cutting them back by one half their height, then fertilize them with a liquid 5-10-10 fertilizer.

Roses will need to be fertilized each month through the summer. In colder areas, allow shrub roses to ripen by discontinuing feeding them at the end of the month. Fertilize container gardens regularly with a liquid all purpose plant food.

Shrubs and Trees

Summer blooming shrubs should be pruned for shape after they have finished flowering. Remove any dead or diseased branches.

Fertilize flowering shrubs like Rhododendrons, Camellias and Azaleas immediately after they have finished flowering with a 'Rhododendron' or 'Evergreen' type fertilizer.
Dead head the developing seed pods from your Rhododendrons and Azaleas to improve next years bloom. Be careful not to damage next years buds which may be hidden just below the pod.

Lawn Care

Contrary to popular belief, a brown lawn isn't necessarily a dead lawn. Grasses go dormant in times of drought, but will quickly return to life with the fall rains. If a lush green lawn is important to you, and you don't mind mowing, water it regularly, and deeply. If a water shortage is expected, or you hate tending to grass, you may choose to just let your lawn go dormant, and water it as seldom as once a month.

Raise the cutting height of the mower. Taller grass cools the roots and helps to keep the moisture in the soil longer. Avoid using fertilizers in hot, dry weather.

Summer holiday fun

The Churches in Kirton present Summer holiday fun Children’s Workshop for 4 to 11 year olds.
On Thursday 29th and Friday 30th July from 10am until 2pm on each day.

Come along for crafts, games, songs and drama. Admission is free. Please bring a packed lunch but drinks will be provided. For more details or to be book a place contact: Sheila 722701 or Jonathan 725055.

Family Film Club

On Saturday 31st July, doors 1:30pm, 2pm start. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: the Lightning Thief (PG). Come and see the film on the big screen in the schoolroom. Tuck shop, coffee, popcorn. Both events are at the Methodist Church, London Road, Kirton.

Letters to the Editor

Dear Catrina

I read with interest regarding the couple returning from Australia, it was very sad especially going to live in the most expensive City over there.

We went over to OZ for our 30th wedding anniversary to visit friends for a month in 1998, and must say were ever we went around the Brisbane area which included the Gold Coast. We were very impressed with the low prices of many things, and it’s sad we did not go over when we were in our 20s like our friends who introduced us did, they got on swell, including buying their first home.

We do agree though Australia is a super place but, when asking our friends to come for a week in Sidney they refused immediately stating it’s the most expesive place to go, and so many tourist spend their time there, that is why it’s expensive.

What a wonderful time we had being shown around, and so many wonderful Zoos ect to see, and the shopping areas are WOW, always so clean, and yes! people were so friendly, and shopkeepers always saying, have a nice day, pity they do not do the same in this country.
Looking at the magazine we find it very good to read although my wife reads it more than I have, but I will in future.

Mr Stainton

Good morning

I am currently adding the final touches to my PELL family tree.  My great grandfather Joseph PELL was born in Kirton, Lincs in 1856-1857.  I wish to purchase a copy of his birth certificate from the General Registers Office, however, I am unable to do so without details of his actual birth date on the official records. There are several registrations listed for Joseph Pell 1856 and 1857.  Unfortunately they do not indicate the parent’s names which makes it extremely difficult.
I have the details of his christening as per the attached document which indicate the specific date of 18 May 1856 in Kirton in Holland, Lincoln, England. The name of his parents shown on the record are correct.

I have also obtained the official record of the period he served in the Royal Marines 1877-1881.  The registration form lists his age as 19 yrs 10 months on 05 Feb 1877.  This would  make his birth around Dec 1856-Jan1857.  This of course conflicts with the date christening record. Perhaps in that era, people did not know what their actual age was!!

Could you kindly advise me of a contact person who may be able to check this information to see if the actual DOB for Joseph PELL is shown on the Kirton Parish records?
I would be most grateful for your assistance.

regards

Lorraine (lorraine_pansini@yahoo.com.au)