Parish Circular Walk Inauguration Sunday 1st October 2017

Despite the forecast of poor weather for the Inauguration of the Firsdown Circular Walk, there was a good turnout of residents and the weather stayed fine for most of the walk.

Nigel Walsh spoke briefly about the circular walk describing how two other parishes, Pitton and Alderbury, have established circular walks in place with another two due for completion at The Grimsteads and Downton. It is intended to expand and establish more signed and waymarked circular walks at other parishes of Southern Wiltshire with the help of local volunteers.

County Councillor Chris Devine declared the walk open and Mary Read, Firsdown’s oldest resident of the original hamlet, cut the ribbon.

Mary described moving into Firsdown when it was part of the Winterslow Parish and building their own bungalow in 1953, the year of the Queen’s Coronation. This was coincidentally the same year that Sir Edmund Hillary conquered the world’s highest peak, Mt Everest. So Mary and John Read appropriately named their home Everest.

The walking party completed the circuit in good time an four of us continued up to Figsbury and back along Monarchs Way.

“Firsdown Paths Group” will be organizing further regular walks around the circuit with the option to go on to Figsbury or Winterbourne Earls in the future. This will be a great way to combine enjoyable exercise through our beautiful parish with meeting up with neighbours.

“Firsdown Paths Group” and the Parish Council would like to thank all who turned out despite the ‘inclement weather’ and for Chris Devine and Mary Read giving us their time to open the walk.

Founder Members of Firsdown path Group

Nigel Walsh, Geoff Heard & Sam Esser