St Bartholomew’s Church, Corsham, hosts the 2019 launch by the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire
Report
“We cycled 26 miles to 8 different churches. It took us 6 hours – it felt like a million! The reason we carried on was mostly the jellybeans.” (8-year-old twins Robert and William, who raised over £1000 for St Thomas’s, Salisbury).
Congratulations to all the 370 or so people (aged 1 – 98) who took part this year and raised over £57,000 for their own churches and the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust. We were blessed with a glorious sunny day, our handsome churches and beautiful countryside looking at their best. There was an excellent turn-out for the launch in Corsham by the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs. Sarah Troughton, who spoke eloquently of the importance of the Trust’s work in maintaining our churches.
The majority still favour the two-wheel ride, but striders make up a significant proportion of the participants, and a well-publicised 98-year-old rode in splendour to St. Mary’s, Codford on his mobility scooter, raising over £1000. There were a couple of horse-riders in Corsham, a training bike rider in Melksham, and a first this year: “Glide and Stride” in Heytesbury. I’m not sure how much striding took place, but the Gliding (throwing paper aeroplanes down from the pulpit) was clearly a success.
Once again I am pleased to record the achievement of the stalwarts from St. James, Bratton, who won the Brooke Cup for the ninth year in succession. Why can no other churches mobilise 40+ participants? Congratulations too to the youngsters from St. Mary’s, Grittleton who retained the Junior Group Cup.
There were many great individual achievements, but I would single out David Fishlock whose solo effort raised over £2000 for St. John the Baptist, Mildenhall and Christ Church, Marlborough.
Results
Please click on this link to see the full list of Prize Winners 2019
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- St Bart’s, Corsham, hosts the 2019 launch by the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire.
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- “Glide+Stride” at Heytesbury
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- Colonel Michael Elcomb being welcomed at his church, St Mary’s, Codford
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- Poppy Dawson-Crabb (aged 5) from Malmesbury URC walked/scootered to Bremilham, Wiltshire’s smallest church
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- Ted Mitchell from Lydiard Millicent proudly wears his prize-winner’s t-shirt
Next Year
The 2020 Ride & Stride is on Saturday 12th September; maybe readers of this who are PCC members could prompt your colleagues into action?