East Surrey Walkers News – November 2021
East Surrey Walkers (ESW) News & Article
ESW are presently compiling our programme of walks to cover the period from January to March 2022. This will be published in December. Please do check our website for our current walk programme which covers the period to the end of this year. It’s always a good idea to check the programme near a walk date just in case there have been any last minute alterations.
Stuart and Alice Pickford, 2018
I began this article writing about a completely different subject but was interrupted by the sad news of the death of a legendary member of East Surrey Walkers. Stuart Pickford has died at the age of 96, he joined the ramblers in 1948 (73 years unbroken membership) and walked until the age of 91 when he finally hung up his boots.
At the age of 95 Stuart spoke of the changes in walking equipment that occurred since his early days as a walker. Stuart’s recollections were recorded by ESW member Pamela Cunnife. With thanks to Pamela I’m reproducing a number of Stuart’s comments as a tribute to a remarkable man. I hope that you may share my interest in how kit developed and the elements of social history Stuart mentioned.
In the 70 years of walking, clothing and accessories have changed out of all recognition – from the adaptation of normal everyday wear to scientifically designed garments and footwear.
The Rucksack – in the 1940s there was nothing specifically available in city stores and one borrowed knapsacks from parents and slung them over one’s shoulder. After the War a more commodious sack, with a detachable ‘A’ frame came into use, this was followed by ex-Army Commando rucksacks with a rigid metal frame which stood the test of years until, in the 1980s, came the ‘H’ frame where the rucksack became a cylinder and stood up to head level or higher. It was comfortable but unsuitable for woodland trails as the sack kept snagging branches and, from the rear, one looked like a walking pillar-box! Finally, a compromise came between the ‘A’ and the ‘H’ frame resulting in a ventilating space between you and the sack and padded support at the waist reaching just up to the shoulders. Made of water-repellent fabric,
The Ramblers, circa 1940s
The Walking Stick was essential in the 1940s for fending off frisky cattle and hacking through brambles. In those Wartime days, restrictions as to how cattle should be penned, or obligations to keep footpaths clear, did not exist.
Footwear – with clothing coupons used only for essential items, walking was undertaken in stout but everyday shoes, worn with galoshes if muddy
conditions or slippery rocks were encountered. In the 1950s a double skin waterproof leather shoe, ‘Veltschoen’, with Commando rubber sole came on the market.
Trousers – trousers were just trousers! Ordinary trousers getting a bit threadbare were quite suitable for walking. If it rained, it rained. In summer, shorts were worn, combined with long socks to protect from nettles or biting insects. Waterproof over trousers sweated and it wasn’t until designer trousers that dried quickly came on the market ‘Regatta’ seemed to have solved the problem.
The Jacket – In the 1940s an old sports jacket was worn, preferably three buttoned, with maybe a pullover underneath. Not until clothing coupons ended in the 1950s was any alternative available. Then it was an ex-RAF Bomber jacket, with buttoned waist and zippered front. They were warm lined and waterproof but they sweated and became uncomfortable. Ten years later came the ‘Grenfell’ jacket. Almost knee length, with copious pockets and double skin of water-repellent fabric and sweat proof. However, before this satisfactory garment, one had to protect the sports jacket of the 1940s from rain. Ordinary raingear was a gabardine raincoat, too cumbersome to carry in the small rucksacks of the time. But available, if you knew where to look, was a fold up pure plastic mac with stitched seams. This was secured round the waist by a string of binder twine, and lasted until the stitched seams rotted in the rain. Luckily, by the 1950s, ex-army Gas Capes came on the market, voluminous in the extreme they had the advantage of a large pouch at the back which fitted over the rucksack. They were waterproof and didn’t sweat much as they were so voluminous and flapped around when one was walking. Eventually, the plastic mac returned with welded seams, also reinforced with nylon.
Headgear – The office trilby was first used until one windy holiday I nearly lost it! So next was a cloth cap and then a beret, keeping the hair dry but offering little protection to the neck. A Sou-Wester with tie on cord did the trick for many years until the arrival of the ‘Tilley’ hat. Cool in summer, dry in rain, screwable up to stuff in the pocket.
In conclusion no reference to Stuart is complete without mentioning Alice his wife of 69 years an equally committed walker. They are pictured above in 2018.
A walking expression states “there’s no such thing as wrong weather only wrong kit “I’m not sure that would apply to most of Stuart and Alice’s walking career which was more a demonstration of their spirit , determination and dedication to walking.
ESW wish you happy walking (hopefully in comfortable and protective kit).
Stephen Hanks
(ESW Publicity Officer)