A former policeman, who has taken part in every Pendleside Pub Walk, is this year participating for a special purpose.
Mick Nichols, who works at Pendleside in the maintenance department, is walking in memory of a former colleague and retired police inspector John Priestley who passed away aged 53 in May.
Mick, 58, said: “Me and John worked as PCs together in Hebden Bridge more than 20 years ago and stayed close friends over the years. In fact, John joined me on the pub walk a couple of times.”
Retired custody sergeant Mick, whose last post was at Blackburn Greenbank police station, will be part of a group of around 10 walkers from Burnley Rugby Club where he is a committee member.
Apart from taking part in every Pendleside Pub Walk Mick and his daughter Katie, 28, also conquered the Yorkshire Three Peaks in aid of Pendleside in April, raising £600 alongside another maintenance staff member Dave Dickson, 56, who raised more than £1,000.
The Pendleside Pub Walk is organised by Pendleside Hospice and Burnley Pendleside Rotary Club and is sponsored by Alderson and Horan Funeral Services. It raises money for Pendleside, with £5 of each registration fee also going to other local charities who are supported by the Rotary Club.
It is hoped more than 2,000 walkers will take part in the 10-mile trek both along roads and through the countryside. The walk is a circular route through some of Pendle’s most scenic countryside including Fence, Barley, Roughlee, Blacko, Higherford and Barrowford. Along the route there will official stop off points to buy refreshments and enjoy live entertainment – plus a host of hostelries!
It has two starting points, so walkers (and their dogs!) can choose to set off from either the Village Hall, Barley, with The Pendle Inn as the first pub en-route, or from The Sparrowhawk in Wheatley Lane, Fence.
Walkers are asked to start from their chosen point between 10am and noon. If between registering and the event you change your mind about where you would like to start contact fundraising on 01282 440120.
Registration is £20 for adults and £10 for children. All participants are asked to gain sponsorship or make a minimum donation of £30 at the time of registering (£20 registration, plus £30 minimum donation).
The registration fee only covers the cost of taking part in the event. This includes a £5 donation to Rotary Club charities, your T-shirt, sponsor pack including postage and packaging and other event costs such as promotion, administration and processing.
On-day registrations will cost £50 for adults as it is assumed walkers will not be collecting sponsorship money, therefore will include a donation. Pre-registrations will close at 10am on Tuesday, September 14.