Hospitallers and Hospitality

                      Beconsaw. Sable a cross formy argent, in the sinister quarter an escallop of the second.



The village of Hesketh-with-Becconsall was at one time in the possession of the Knights Hospitaller until Henry VIII decided otherwise. It lies almost directly across the Ribble estuary from our apartment in Lytham. Probably no more than 4 miles away, it took us almost an hour to drive there this morning. 

We went to Becconsall to Talk The Walk to Becconsall U3A in the coldest hall in which I have yet performed I think it was colder in than outside. I suggested that we abandon the talk and do an exercise class instead so that everybody could cast off their overcoats and stop huddling. This seemed to meet with general approval but maybe they thought it was a joke so I reverted to the talk. 

The talk seemed to go down well, as usual, with bursts of laughter and general enthusiasm. We raised a decent sum for Pancreatic Cancer UK and I signed a few books into slavery. As usual, we met some lovely people and had some interesting conversations before and after the meeting.

We were pleased to note that the Community Hall is to be rebuilt soon, hopefully with adequate heating. 

I have abandoned Facebook, so this blog will from now on be the only public means of recording my progress.

I am now at about 176% of my fundraising target for, again, this phase of fundraising - since we came to live back in Britain. The £25,000 I have raised in total is just a drop in the ocean compared with the millions needed to fund the research to find a cure and a reliable method of diagnosis for this most deadly and savage type of cancer.

You don't need to attend one of my talks to help me in this task. You can donate by clicking on the "Justgiving" button on this page. No amount is too small (or too large).

Do you have an e-reader - a Kindle, Kobo, iPad or some such? Wherever you buy your e-books, you can buy a copy of my book about the Big Walk for the price of a coffee. Just search for "Vic's Big Walk from SW France to NW England". About £1 will go directly to Pancreatic Cancer UK.

THE BEATLES BEAT ME TO IT

Yesterday I Talked The Walk - about my epic 70-day footslog from the French Pyrenees to North West England - to Barnston Women's Institute.

The venue was the WI hall in Barnston, on the Wirral. Proudly displayed on the outside wall is this plaque, which records that the Beatles played here 3 times in early 1962, just before the height and frenzy of their fame.

My talk went down very well, to a packed house. I have now given it to more than 10,000 people. I raised a substantial amount of money for Pancreatic Cancer UK and have now raised almost £14,000 from this phase of my fundraising - just by speaking and selling autographed copies of my books.

I am now at about 170% of my fundraising target for, again, this phase of fundraising - since we came to live back in Britain. The £25,000 I have raised in total is just a drop in the ocean compared with the millions needed to fund the research to find a cure and a reliable method of diagnosis for this most deadly and savage type of cancer.

You don't need to attend one of my talks to help me in this task. You can donate by clicking on the "Justgiving" button on this page. No amount is too small (or too large).

Do you have an e-reader - a Kindle, Kobo, iPad or some such? Wherever you buy your e-books, you can buy a copy of my book about the Big Walk for the price of a coffee. Just search for "Vic's Big Walk from SW France to NW England". About £1 will go directly to Pancreatic Cancer UK.

FROM 90 TO 163 IN 12 MONTHS

As we entered 2018 my fundraising achievement was at 90% of the target, with two and a half years to go. I hit 100% in early February and now stand at 163%. I shall be very disappointed to not get to 200% by the end of 2019.

Within an hour of my last fundraising talk in November, I had completely lost my voice due to a virus, It did not return until 4 days later, and has been very temperamental ever since. I had to cancel the other 3 talks I had booked this year. Fortunately, it now seems as if it may be able to stand up to the 2019 campaign, which starts in mid-January.

I have mentioned the Strandloper before - he who thrusts money into my hand almost every time we encounter him during our morning walks. He was at it again yesterday, and his latest £10 donation is already on its way to Pancreatic Cancer UK. Another note - this time £20, flew into my hand this morning from that of Michael Whittaker, a spinning colleague at the local YMCA. Michael's mother suffers from pancreatitis and he spends much of his time looking after her.

The picture is of a wonderful canal tunnel I walked through near Rugby, during my epic walk from the Pyrenees to the Pennines (and on a bit).