Eddie’s Memorial Walk

 Wednesday 30th September 2026.           Eddie’s Memorial Walk

It was a good turnout today, eleven of our group attending this memorial walk at Golden Acre Park, a location on the far reaches of the city of Leeds. It was seven years to the day since our dear friend Eddie sadly passed away. We do this walk in his memory, it was here that he took his last walk with us Lads.

So Alan, Keith, John, Derek, Dave, Brian, Colin, John Howarth, Don Alexander, Kevin and Mark took part in this annual event, all meeting up at golden acre at about 11:45. It was a pleasant late morning, surprisingly warm for this time of year, after the usual handshakes we then proceeded with our walk splitting off into various groups as we slowly made our way to one of Eddies favourite viewing spots.

Time for a moment of reflection here in one of the bird hides, but sadly on this occasion there were no wildlife birds to be seen, forces of nature taking it’s toll with no feeding permitted at this present time, also the absence of water was another factor, shame a disappointment to us all. Nevertheless we continued with our journey around the far side of the main lake heading back towards the on site cafe for some refreshments etc. With our various choice’s to hand we now gathered in a suitable seating area and began more group conversations, mainly about upcoming events, next outings and the Christmas Meal arrangements etc.

Almost 30 minutes passed before it was time to say farewell to Golden Acre Park and our memories of Eddie, we now slowly departed taking our various journeys homeward bound by either car, bus or on foot.

Cheers Everyone for talking part today.

Ten out of Ten

 Wednesday 23rd September 2026.         Ten out of Ten

Strange Title, but this is how it went. For today’s adventure ten of the Lads would converge on Leeds Railway Station in order to catch the 9:55 train heading for the East Yorkshire city of Hull. Those on board would be in Order of seniority, John Hey, Derek, Dave, Brian, Colin, John Howarth, Kevin, Glenn, Mark and finally Russ. The gang’s intentions are to visit the newly renovated Maritime Museum and then taking lunch at a nearby Pub.

Their train duly arrived at the Paragon station just a few minutes after 11am. With no sign of rain the lads took the short walk along the shopping precincts of Hull, it wasn’t too long before they reached the entrance to the Museum, Dave had pre-booked the entrance tickets so the lads were soon inside and exploring its newly arranged artefacts, this time displayed over 3 floors in this Splendid building. What a super undertaking from their previous visit several years ago.

The lads had split up into various groups and were meandering at will, just absorbing the sheer amount of information on display etc. A total of about 90 minutes viewing time were spent here in the museum before most of the lads set off to experience lunch at the Lion and Key just a short distance away, Dave and John taking advantage of what the museum cafe had to offer. They did eventually join the lads in the pub and partake in the various conversations about past exploits concerning events at Thackrays and other establishments etc, all good fun.

With the time approaching 2:15 John and Dave left this happy Crowd and retraced their steps back towards the railway station here in Hull , they were taking an earlier train back to Leeds than the rest of the lads 15:03 instead of 16:03 to be exact.

Upon Reflection today’s outcome was both informative and entertaining, interspersed with the odd hiccup.

Cheers Everyone 

Birthday Bash at Murgatroyds

 Wednesday 16th September 2026.         Birthday Bash at Murgatroyds

As the title suggests,  today’s adventure for the Lads would see them heading for the far reaches of Leeds, Yeadon to be precise. Where some of the gang will participate in a leisurely walk around a stretch of water known locally as the Yeadon Tarn, once completed they will then head for the nearby Fish and Chip restaurant named Murgatroyds. 

Those taking part in today’s adventure will be Glenn, Kevin, Dave, Brian, Derek, Mark and finally birthday boy himself, John Howarth, the rest of our group having prior arrangements etc. A meeting time of around 11:30 at a suitable bus stop in Yeadon was planned, unfortunately Derek was going to arrive some 50 minutes later due to a mishap of sorts. He did eventually join the rest of us after we had completed our walk.

Mark was responsible for making the booking at the restaurant, that of 12:45 and that is indeed what happened on this occasion. We soon found ourselves sat around a suitable table and shortly afterwards we were ordering our choice of lunchtime meals. It was the pensioners special that we chose, 3 courses were relished with much delight interspersed with much conversation, Glenn taking a leading role this time, great to hear about his youthful days etc.

A good hour and a half was spent in the restaurant before first to leave was the birthday boy John, the rest of us followed some 15 minutes later. Mark had made his journey there by car, it was back to the bus stop for the remainder. Those of which rather unfortunately jumped on board the No. 27 bus for a 50 minute magical mystery tour of the surrounding areas of the city, Pleasant views but a rather lengthy ride to say the least. It was close to 3:15 before we hopped off this bus and now made our ways finally heading home.

It has been a rewarding outing here at Yeadon, pleasant walking conditions with some sunshine to boot great stuff.

Cheers Everyone.

Grassington to Burnsall

 Wednesday 9th September 2026.                 Grassington to Burnsall

At the fourth attempt, today the Lads finally got to fulfill their intended riverside walk up in the Yorkshire Dales. This would involve 6 of the gang making an earlier start than usual, they will be heading for the village of Grassington by means of the route 74 Dales Bus. 

This is a limited service operating 3 times a day on selected days from the town of Ilkley, the bus is scheduled to leave Ilkley at about 10:30 and only as a limited amount of seats available, 16 to be exact, so it is imperative that the lads get to Ilkley on time.  This was achieved by boarding the 9:33 train from Leeds for Colin, Brian, Dave, Glenn and Kevin, John was on a slightly different route.

By 10:15 the now group of 6 were assembled at the appropriate bus stop in Ilkley and by some good fortune were at the head of the queue, unlike some other ramblers etc, one in particular shooting his mouth off about the rule of only 16 passengers. 

Eventually the 74 left Ilkley and was soon hurtling along the narrow country roads heading in the direction of Grassington, this seat of your pants journey taking about 50 minutes or so to complete, thankfully we 

arrived shaken and stirred.

Once off the bus first stop was the loo, then gather our thoughts and begin our riverside adventure etc. there is a large car parking area here to facilitate the amount of visitors to this particular spot along with some small parkland suitable for picnics etc. In one of these areas we stopped to take a look at a tree sapling take from the (Sycamore Gap Tree) from here we soon found ourselves heading down the footpath leading to the river , at this point the lads took a left turn through a narrow gap in the wall and were soon in open meadows following the river down stream heading for the picturesque village of Burnsall some 3 and a half miles away. 

A couple of rest stops were taken has we slowly made our way to the Hebden suspension bridge that helps you cross the river at this point, slightly better than using the stepping stones, although it is only one way traffic by methods of the bridge. The lads waiting their turn to experience this crossing knowing full well when they get to the other side a little more urgency will be required to eventually reach the Red Lion pub in Burnsall. This is where the returning bus to Ilkley stops if you get there on time ( 1:26 ) We all managed to reach this bus stop with only a few minutes to spare, no problem with the amount of passengers on this 

return journey a great relief to us at this point.

Once back in the town of Ilkley the driver kindly dropped us off in close proximity to the Bar T’at pub where the lads now met up with 3 more of the gang, John Howarth, Derek and Mark to partake in a late lunchtime meal etc. It was a leisurely lunch interspersed with various conversations about this that and the other, our meals were most enjoyable in this very relaxed atmosphere here at this particular pub.

Some future outings were discussed and planned before it was time to leave Ilkley and make our respective journeys home, it was almost 3:30 as the lads reached both the Bus and Railway stations.

What the Lads achieved today was both exhilarating at some points but challenging at others. 

Cheers Everyone for taking part.

Photos to follow 

Another Plan “B”

 Wednesday 2nd September 2026                Another Plan “B”

Yes, yet again the Lads have had to alter their arrangements due to the weather forecast for their intended destination etc. It was literally plan B, that of tenpin bowling at the alley in the Merrion Centre Leeds.

Just 4 of the gang will be taking part, those being John and Brian representing Leeds whilst Derek and Dave are representing Wakefield.

It was roundabout 10:30 when the 4 met up at the Railway Station in Leeds, no rain on the scene at that time, so it was a rather slow pace has they made their way towards the Merrion Centre.

The 4 eventually got into action some 40 minutes later on lane 11, what was to follow was both rewarding and entertaining, full of thrills and spills so to speak. Dave and Derek going into an unassailable lead throughout the first six frames with John and Brian trying their best to catch up, but it was not to be.

Maybe the second game will be a more closely contested match, unfortunately for the Leeds Lads they seemed to fall apart literally with more gutter bowls than ever before, this giving the Wakey Lads an overwhelming victory. After the Awarding of the Marauder’s Cup the four went off for a lunchtime meal 

courtesy of the Trinity Kitchen here in Leeds.

Upon reflection today’s outcome was full of laughter from start to finish.

Cheers Everyone.