FROM THE ARCHIVES
POCKLINGTON SCHOOL AND
THE LYKE WAKE WALK
In 1961, two groups from Pocklington School were
amongst the first 500 people to complete the Lyke
Wake Walk (40 miles in under 24hrs). Somewhat
later, in October 1971, OP Ian Evans (71-74)
did a double crossing (both ways – 80 miles in
under 48hrs) alone and unsupported aged 15,
the youngest ‘double-crosser’ at that time. Another
Lyke Wake record holder is OP Gerry Orchard
(69-75) who has done the LWW more times
than any other person – his current total is 230.
Both these OPs are still doing the Walk regularly!
This information kindly supplied by the archivist
of the New Lyke Wake Club, has prompted the
OP office to do a bit of digging in the school archives
to discover more about the school’s attempts at
the LWW.
The LWW is a forty-mile crossing of the North
Yorkshire Moors from Osmotherley to Ravenscar
essentially following the line of the watershed
across the moors at its widest point. The late Bill
Cowley, writer and founder member of the Lyke
Wake Club, originated the concept of the Walk
with an open challenge in the Dalesman in August
1955, to cross the moors on foot from west to east
within 24 hours. The challenge was first successfully
met on 1 October 1955, when Bill and a party
of twelve struggled across in 23 hours. All those
successfully completing the Walk are entitled to the
title of ‘Dirger’, or ‘Witch’ (as successful ladies are
referred to). Over the last 64 years about a quarter
of a million have made the crossing, including a
number of groups from Pocklington School in the
‘60s and ‘70s.
The archives of the LWW record two parties from
Pocklington School who did the walk in 1961. As
the LWW only started in 1955, these pupils would
have been amongst the first 500 people to do the
challenge. Those taking part were:
4 June 1961 (time taken: 15hrs 30mins):
R G Wolsey (18), J G Foxcroft (18), W G Garside (18).
18 September 1961 (time taken: 15hrs):
R G Wolsey (18), J G Foxcroft (18), P R Shaw (17),
T L Moody (16), G R Foxcroft (16), P W Haynes (16).
A later crossing on 26 July 1972 is also recorded
(time taken: 21hrs): T Evans, M Evans, C Evans,
C G LeBrun.
In the early days of the LLW, signing-in/-out books
were kept at either end of the walk and this is where
written entries for the two early Pocklington School
parties were recorded.
According to the school magazine archives, there
were other Pocklington School groups completing
the LLW as follows:
16 May 1965 (time taken: 11hrs 30mins –
a new school record at the time): L F Steele and
C G Bridge with Mr Whitehouse.
Summer term 1967, 21-28 July (exact dates not
specified): reference is made in the Annual CCF
14
Camp (Bellerby) report of “Both platoons attempted
the Walk during the week, and 21 out of 28 starters
completed it successfully.”
Lent term 1970 (date not specified): in the House
Notes report for the Dolman boarders, reference is
made to “the Lower VI planned a Lyke Wake Walk,
but were hindered by sore feet!” Are we to assume
they did not complete it? Were you one of them?
Summer term 1970 (exact date not known): the
Venture Scouts report states: “At the beginning of
the Summer Term the Venture Scouts undertook the
Lyke Wake Walk as their part of the Scout Group’s
sponsored walk. Practically the whole Unit took part
and everyone completed it within 18 hours, raising
£138 in the process, and developing a greater spirit
of fellowship too.”
A few years later, in 1973, a party of School House
boarders did the LWW. The Pocklington School
magazine (December 1973 issue) reported:
“On May 20th, seventeen boys went on a hike over the
North Yorkshire Moors, which included the first section
of the Lyke Wake Walk. This was primarily planned as
a training session for Messrs Duggleby, Stabler, Barrett,
Sampson, Whybray, Smith, Young and Robinson, who the
following week, successfully completed the forty one
miles, eight hundred and seventy six yards, two feet,
three inches of the Lyke Wake Walk. Mr Young set off
whistling ‘These boots were made for walking’, but
after only eight miles, the right boot disintegrated, and
despite a gallant attempt at first aid to mummify the
boot with bandages, had to be discarded. After another
ten miles with one boot and one cord shoe, the left
boot was finally summoned to the great boot-room in
the sky, and Mr Young did well to complete the walk in
a pair of cord shoes. His last word on the walk – ‘sole-
destroying…’ (yes, there were groans when he said it
then, too!).”
This seems to be the last report in the magazines
of a Pocklington School group undertaking the
LWW, although the New Lyke Wake Club
archives show another Pocklington School party
did the challenge in May 1978. Were you on that
expedition? Can you tell us anything about it and
who was on it?
The New Lyke Wake Club would be pleased to
receive details of any other Pocklington School LWW
crossings including names of anyone doing the walk
and copies of any crossing reports, photographs,
Condolence Cards (Lyke Wake Club membership
cards) etc. for their archives. Information can be sent
to the Exiled Archivist of the New Lyke Wake Club,
email: [email protected].