CEDRIC ROBINSON

A great and relaxing time at Tai Chi this morning with Mrs Gladders.  It's a meeting up with friends and learning workshop, coming away feeling tired but relaxed and ready to tackle the rest of the day all at the same time. It has prepared me well to go home and complete my packing for new few days away in The Cotswolds.  An emotional visit to start but then hope to do lots of photography practicing around The Cotswolds and Westonbirt Arboretum.  (Yes I think I've just enough space left to put in the kitchen sink!!!!!  It's a good job we're going by car).

I was going to call into Grange and take a photo of the pond are today's blip but as I drove through that part the heavens opened ad we had a heavy hailstone downpour.  So drove right past, not having raincoat or umbrella with me!!

Sun came out again as I was almost home, so drove straight down to Kents Bank station (our little station which I've featured before but it's constantly changing scenery and always lovely.  I just loved the sky today so tried to capture that, hope it's OK??

Whilst there I noticed lots of people, a tractor and a sign.  There was Cedric Robinson signing copies of his new book as today's charity walk across The Bay had just finished.  So sad that I only just missed out on being their to take a picture of them all arriving, but |I will do that one day.

For those that don't know.

Morecambe Bay is beautiful but treacherous and has many quick sands to negotiate with a very fast incoming tide.  The walk starts in various places around Arnside and always ends up at Kents Bank along the foreshore and then onto the station.

The Queen's Guide to the Sands is a royally appointed guide to crossing the sands of Morecambe Bay, an ancient and potentially dangerous tidal crossing , the tide does come in extremely fast.  he guide is paid a nominal salary of only £15 a year but the holder of the post also has the use of the 700-year-old Guide's Cottage at Kents Bank, which is owned by the Crown and managed by the Duchy of Lancaster.

Cedric Robinson has been said guide for 55 years, having been appointment in 1963.  He just retired this January, and has now handed over those reigns to Michael Wilson.  That is no mean feat in itself as Michael has huge footsteps to follow in.  Cedric though still has an Ambassadorial and Advisory role.

The extra is of Cedric with the book written about him by Lindsay Sutton.   Lindsay Sutton is a triple award winning journalist, author and a former TV broadcaster and producer. He has plied his media trade for nearly 50 years, and has known `Ced' Robinson for much of that time.  The book was "a labour of love for an old friend" and Lindsay says is so much more than a `thank you to Cedric.

Most people walk in large groups, although individuals can do it, but the groups always make the walk in aid of charities.

Cedric in his time has even guided HRH The Duke of Edinburgh over The Bay by carriage.

On completion of the walk people either have someone waiting for them or wait to catch a train back to Arnside where they set off from.  They will be soaking wet as part of the walk still means negotiating your way through, what can be waist high water.  Luckily these days I believe The Abbott Hall Hotel overs people facilities to dry off and change if they do't have someone to meet them.

I've never done the walk myself and sadly don't think I'd ever be able to do it now as it is a long way and you can't dawdle.