David Craddock with Bob Coles, right

David Craddock with Bob Coles, right

A campaigning octogenarian has been elected president of a group of Ramblers which is pushing for improvements to a long-distance path in its area.

Bob Coles took up the post with Northamptonshire Ramblers at their recent annual meeting and immediately pledged he would help restore a missing footpath for the Nene Way, the county’s first long-distance path. Mr Coles, 80, said he would be at a rally in June to press for the link between Oundle and Thrapston.

The new president has been a Ramblers activist for more than 30 years.

David Craddock, chairman of the Northamptonshire area of the Ramblers, who proposed Mr Coles for the post, said: ‘We have kept strong links with Bob since he retired from our executive committee two years ago.  He has always given us advice and guidance when we needed it.

“The role of honorary president is very much an advisory one so, in accepting it, Bob is really continuing what he has always been doing, except now his continuing, enormous contribution is being formally recognised and honoured.”

Kate Ashbrook, a Ramblers’ trustee and former national chairman of the association, said in a message to the group: “There is nobody more fitting to be president of the Northamptonshire Ramblers than Bob Coles. He has worked tirelessly for decades to make the county better for walkers.

“He has campaigned for our paths and for our beautiful countryside as well as putting together wonderful displays of the Ramblers’ work.

“Bob led the campaign for safe crossings across the new A14 dual carriageway, to enable people to walk safely between the villages on either side. Bob has built bridges and waymarked paths through fields of crop. He is outspoken in defending our paths and is a truly good friend to all walkers.

“I salute Bob as the new president of Northamptonshire Ramblers. Long may he serve in that role.”

The rally, to press Northamptonshire County Council to formally acknowledge the footpath link, will take place at Lilford on 9 June this year.

A campaigning octogenarian has been elected president of a group of Ramblers which is pushing for improvements to a long-distance path in its area.

Bob Coles took up the post with Northamptonshire Ramblers at their recent annual meeting and immediately pledged he would help restore a missing footpath for the Nene Way, the county’s first long-distance path. Mr Coles, 80, said he would be at a rally in June to press for the link between Oundle and Thrapston.

The new president has been a Ramblers activist for more than 30 years.

David Craddock, chairman of the Northamptonshire area of the Ramblers, who proposed Mr Coles for the post, said: ‘We have kept strong links with Bob since he retired from our executive committee two years ago. He has always given us advice and guidance when we needed it.

“The role of honorary president is very much an advisory one so, in accepting it, Bob is really continuing what he has always been doing, except now his continuing, enormous contribution is being formally recognised and honoured.”

Kate Ashbrook, a Ramblers’ trustee and former national chairman of the association, said in a message to the group: “There is nobody more fitting to be president of the Northamptonshire Ramblers than Bob Coles. He has worked tirelessly for decades to make the county better for walkers.

“He has campaigned for our paths and for our beautiful countryside as well as putting together wonderful displays of the Ramblers’ work.

“Bob led the campaign for safe crossings across the new A14 dual carriageway, to enable people to walk safely between the villages on either side. Bob has built bridges and waymarked paths through fields of crop. He is outspoken in defending our paths and is a truly good friend to all walkers.

“I salute Bob as the new president of Northamptonshire Ramblers. Long may he serve in that role.”

The rally, to press Northamptonshire County Council to formally acknowledge the footpath link, will take place at Lilford on 9 June this year.

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