The newly formed Rotary Club of Oswestry and Cambrian lost no time in holding their first event on August 4th, the day nearest to St Oswald’s Day.
Oswalds Trail is a 12.5 mile circuit of Oswestry, taking in the beautiful countryside around the town, including the Old Racecourse, Wat’s Dyke , Brogyntn Estate and Oswestry Hillfort. The walk was conceived by the Oswestry Group of Ramblers as a permanent mark of their 40th birthday.
Although Oswald was a King of Northumbria, he is believed to have been killed in the Battle of Maserfield in 642. According to legend, Oswald was dismembered in the battle, and one of his arms was carried to an ash tree by a raven which was declared miraculous, while the spring Oswald’s Well is said to have sprung up where the raven dropped the limb out of the tree.
The sponsored walk was organised by the Rotary Club to support the amazing work of the Movement Centre Charity. The organisers had the support of the Ramblers Group, who helped on the day while Curtis Langley from the Movement centre provided refreshments at the half way point on the Old Racecourse.
This was the first year the club had organised the event, and it was treated very much as a pilot event with all walkers asked for feedback and suggestions for improvement. It is hoped that this will now become an annual event which will showcase the lovely area we call home, provide a great days walking with family and friends, and an opportunity to raise some funds for deserving local charities.
The walkers set off from Wilfred Owen Green, and made their way across town, towards Morda, up through Racecourse Wood, on to Brogyntn Estate, Wats Way and back down to town by the Old Hillfort. Although the numbers were small for this first event about £1000 will have been raised. Feedback was constructive from the walkers and the general consensus was ‘please do it again next year’.
On finishing the walk each person was presented with an Oswald’s Trail Badge. This was designed by Isobel after a competition at Our Lady’s and St Oswald’s Primary School in Oswestry. The judges from the Rotary Club were really impressed with number and quality of the entries, and again we hope this competition will become an annual fixture in the calendar.
So all in all , the event was a success! Now to start planning for next year!
Pictures: Graham Mitchell.