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.