BIDDULPH ROTARY TROLLEY TREK

Following the report in our last edition of Biddulph Times the imminent departure of the Biddulph Rotary ‘Trolley Trekkers’ the 3 Rotarians duly set off from Sainsbury’s in Biddulph on Saturday 22nd October. Their aim to push a Sainsbury’s supermarket trolley a distance of 90 miles, to mark the Queen’s 90th year and to raise money for two locally based charities, namely Approach (providing specialist dementia care to older people and their carers, based in Stoke Road, Shelton) and Action for Children (supporting and making life better for local children and young people based in the Dudson Centre, Hope Street, Hanley). Fortunately, the weather was set fair as Town Mayor Councillor Jill Salt and Staffordshire Moorlands MP the Rt. Hon Karen Bradley, cheered-on by Rotarians, friends and representatives from the chosen charities, dropped the starting flag as the ‘Trekkers’ set off towards Congleton, their first port of call. At the Staffordshire Moorlands and Cheshire boundary the Trekkers and those Rotarians, who had joined them for the first 2.5 miles, called in at The Castle Inn for a live rendezvous with Den Siegertsz on his BBC Radio Stoke morning show. Encouraged by well-wishers, it was then best foot forward to meet one of the Trekkers’ major sponsors, Burns garage in Congleton. Next the Trekkers were greeted with a rousing cry from Congleton Town Crier, Doug Parker and President David Worth and fellow Congleton Rotarians outside Congleton Town Hall. The Trekkers then continued towards Crewe, calling in at The Egerton Arms at Astbury [where Biddulph Rotary meet on Mondays] then a quick visit to Glebe Farm, Astbury before continuing the trek through Kidsgrove and Alsager, meeting with President Wendy Parker from Alsager Rotary and Sainsbury’s area manager Deborah and assistant Tom at their Alsager store. A very busy trekking day finished with a meeting at the Hunters Lodge with President Tom Protheroe and Rotarians from Crewe Rotary Club and yet another rousing ‘Cry’ from the Middlewich Town Crier, Devlin Hobson. After a bite to eat the Trekkers were all tucked-up in bed by 8.45pm, to be ready for the next day!!. Sunday saw an early start for the Trekkers as they passed through Crewe, Willaston, and Nantwich where they met up with Cheshire Police, before ‘pushing-off’ through Tiverton before reaching the end of Day 2 in Tarporley. A very welcome pint of bitter was enjoyed at the Foresters Arms and another early night! Day 3, [the longest trekking day, with over 19 miles was completed along an incredibly busy A51] The Trekkers set off from Tarporley, joined by Tarporley Rotarian Andrew Wallace before passing through Clotton, and through Chester, Sealand and into Wales. A real slog of a day [those Romans made the roads far too straight meaning there was literally no end in sight!] Again all were tucked-up in bed by 9pm!! Day 4, and after the previous day’s exertions maybe it did feel like it was all downhill now and that the end was almost in sight! This was a much more enjoyable day, as the Trekkers called into Deeside Fire and Rescue station meeting the firefighters there. Then onto Sainsbury’s in Flint to meet up with some super staff there, before pushing on to the day’s end at Mostyn, North Wales. Later that evening there was time for a meeting with Prestatyn Rotary Club, an exchanging of banners with them and presentation of their generous cheque donation. Day 5, the Trekkers were joined by the legendary ‘Degsy’ from Tamworth Football Club who had raised an incredible £631.50 for the charities and who enthusiastically put his best foot forward and completed another 14 miles with the Trekkers to finish the day in Rhyl. The Trekkers en-route called in to HM Coastguard to meet Tulsa and then to Rhyl RNLI meeting-up with Derek Denton who provided a personal guided tour around the RNLI immaculate lifeboat, ‘Lil Cunningham’. In the evening there was a short meeting with supporters before retiring early to bed once more! Day 6, and journey’s end was definitely now in sight!! Today’s trek was from Rhyl through Kinmel Bay and Towyn, to finish in Rhos-on Sea. How many caravans were counted and how many local car registration plates? A slog again today, but it did mean that tomorrow would be a very short day to the finish. The evening was rounded off by meeting up with Rhyl and Rhos-on-Sea Rotary clubs, before meeting other supporters at the Sports club in Rhos. Friday 28th the final day and the Trekkers were all rather downbeat. Surely we don’t finish today, do we? The first sign of rain but it would only be a short sprint from Rhos to Llandudno. Nothing could now go wrong, could it? Sadly it did and today saw John’s personal mobility scooter ‘Thunderbird 2’ give up the ghost at the top of the Little Orme but happily as John rolled down the Llandudno side of the Orme, Tony’s GPS confirmed John had completed his 90 miles. ‘Thunderbird 2’ was unceremoniously loaded into the back of the mini bus support vehicle on Ael-y-Bryn Road and John hitched a ride to the Llandudno Promonade. With the permission of the Harbour Master, the minibus towed ‘Thunderbird 2’ the one and a half miles to the Llandudno war memorial. Accompanied by Young adults from Action for Children, the Trekkers completed another 1.19 miles as they were greeted by the Rotary North West District Governor, Stan Bowes and his wife Sheila and family and friends and Biddulph Rotarians. Llandudno Town Crier, Billy Baxter gave them a rousing welcome on behalf of the Mayor of Llandudno before the Trekkers officially finished at the Sainsbury’s local store in the town where they were greeted by store manager Ryan Jermy. Then it was on to the stage at the Conference centre to tell North West Rotarians all about it! En-route, the ‘Trekkers’ [Tony Birchall, Dave Ash and Town Crier and Rotarian John Robinson] and their support drivers, Rob Lomas, Graeme Court, Sue Robinson and supporters Helen Birchall and Lesley Lomas, met up with civic dignitaries, other Rotary clubs, Town Criers and so many many friendly people and well-wishers. A great time was had by all and to date a sum in excess of £4000 has been raised or pledged for the charities. More of the event can be seen on the Rotary Club of Biddulph Trolley Trek to Llandudno facebook page. Why not take a look.!!! Or listen to daily videos and the live broadcasts with Den Siegertsz and Stuart George on BBC Radio Stoke. The Trekkers would like to thank all who have helped and generously given their time…but let’s not forget the reason why the Trek was undertaken in the first place to raise funds for two well deserving local charities. Biddulph Rotary would remind readers that anyone wishing to sponsor the Trekkers can donate on Biddulph Rotary’s ‘JUST GIVING’ page until 31st December just visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/RotaryBiddulphTrolleyTrek If you can make a donation, no matter how small, the Trekkers would be so grateful. Your support is very much appreciated. Best wishes to all at this time of year.