Ryedale Walking Group Leaders

Phil - Keen on the outdoors since childhood. Started hiking in 1969 in the Lake District and Forest of Bowland. Climbed Pendle Hill at the age of 11 and walked into a snow filled ditch! Born in Preston, Lancashire but was fortunate to move to North Yorkshire through work in 1993. Started walking seriously again in 2004 and has since walked the Cleveland Way, Pendle Way, Cistercian Way, Mortimer Trail, St Cuthbert's Way and Tabular Hills Walk with Judy and members of Ryedale Walking Group. Phil is also a member of the Ramblers' Association. Other hobbies include a liking for computerised mapping and the GPS, Amateur Radio, Computing, and Geographing. Phil worked in Electronics and Information Technology until 2005 and served as a Trade Union official for most of his working life. He is also a Justice of the Peace and Magistrate sitting on the Scarborough Bench and is the Membership Secretary for the Magistrates Association in North Yorkshire.

Phil started planning and leading walks in 2005. Current duties for Ryedale Walking Group (jointly with Nigel) include planning and leading walks, promoting the group in the local press and managing this website. Met Judy in 1995, who also enjoys walking and has been going on walking holidays since she was a child. Judy provides administrative support as Treasurer and provides inspiration in managing the group.

Nigel - A local lad who grew up in Kirkbymoorside and went to Ryedale School. Started walking many years ago before leaving school by chasing a ball around several fields playing golf! Progressed into organising Youth Hostel trips to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. In his late teens took advantage of Inter-Rail and went travelling to Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Yugoslavia and Scandinavia. Married Alison in 1990 and moved to Pickering. Continued to travel and walk. Nigel is employed as a sheet metal worker for a local company and has passed his advanced driving test.

Re-started organising walks in 2004 for local walking groups including NYMA. Has walked many trails including the St Cuthbert’s Way, Pendle Way, Bronte Way, Wolds Way and the Southwest Coast Path (not all of it). Nigel is looking forward to the challenges ahead running an informal walking group for the benefit of everyone.

Alison also enjoys walking and is part of the organising team. She enjoys reading and collecting books and also helps the group by finding tearooms and making the arrangements with the owners. Alison also takes bookings for walks and plans the groups transport.

We encourage our more experienced walkers to lead the walks and we are grateful to Pauline, Sam, Alf, John, Steve and Brenda for their valued contribution and co-operation in helping us to run Ryedale Walking Group.