Club History - Chelmsford Pathfinders
From our home page you will be familiar with
the history of Mr. Hegarty advertising his
intention to lead a walk
from Chelmsford Railway Station to the Thatchers Arms (now
the Cuckoo) at Radley Green.
But did you know that the club has a
wealth of photos and notebooks on walks
undertaken during the early years?
This page is designed to give an insight
into some of the documents and photos
relating to the Chelmsford Pathfinders
during the years 1934 - 1940. We hope you enjoy this and if you
have any additional information that you
feel would be of interest to add, or can
fill in the names of anyone in any of the
photos please
contact us.
First though...
A Brief club history (1930-1948) as told by
Mr Hegarty
The following was found typed on the
reverse of Committee Meeting agenda for 18th
January 1972. Rather than type it out we
thought you'd like to see the original
typewritten document. Please click on the
images to view full size

We have recently found a BBC Essex Interview
featuring Vic Hegarty & Bill Shipman in
conversation with Steve Scruton where they
discussed the origins of the club and the
60th Anniversary Walk. It can be heard
here. This was originally broadcast on
26th April 1994 and repeated on the 28th
April.
The Club arranged walking holidays each year, most
notably at Whitsun, and ventured to,
then, far flung corners of the globe, such
as Guildford, Long Melford and Lavenham, and
The Chilterns.
Walks began at designated points as they do
today, but as transport was not always
available many would walk to the start
point, do a 15 mile or longer walk and then
walk home.
Many of the log books have very detailed
entries on the walk: almost a turn by turn
account. It appears from looking at these
that each leader recorded the walk after it
had taken place, and included such things as
the weather and the number of walkers.

Above: Log books and a page from one.
Hope you enjoy the following cuttings and
photographs from the very first book kept by
the club.
1934
First entry in the book. Details of walks
published in the local paper.

Above left: 21.10.34 Above right:
23.09.34 both around Great Leighs

Above left: 22.07.34 Braxted area Above
right: 03.34
1935

Above left: 17.02.35 Mud! Above right:
23.06.35 Witham great Totham Goldhanger
1936

Above left: 19.04.36 From Stock. Above
right:03.05.36 From Broomfield
1937

Above left: 26.09.37 Stour Valley. Above
right 5.09.37 Herongate
10.01.37 Around Witham & Rivenhall
1938

Above left: 25.09.38 from Parsonage Farm.
Above right: 19.06.38 from Mountnessing

Whitsun in the Chilterns 04/05.06
1938 2nd from Right is Miss Lorkin (now Mrs.
Parker)
1939

Above left: Lavenham / Long Melford
27/29.05.39. Above right: Walk from Mill
Green 11.06.39

Group photo 26.03.39 & gathered round a
water fountain sometime in 1939.
This first log book ends in 1940 with
newspaper cuttings relating to a few walks
during the year.
Log books after this one are exercise books
or folders with details of the walks
preserved by the individual leaders, but
sadly contain no photographs.
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