To look at the photographs one would think it had been a lovely day and warm enough for fun, certainly our Chairman's father and dog seemed happy.....
However, looks can be deceiving, as they say, and in this case they are. It was windy, gusts of up to 50 miles an hour and several showers. There are not as many photographs as we would have liked, but as there was only one camera, and for most of the time all hands were needed to keep the gazebos grounded, taking pictures was the last thing on our minds.
We kept at it 
until, eventually, we had four gazebos erected. Not exactly perfect, but under the circumstances, we did quite well to get that far. We were determined not to let anything spoil the day for us and the walkers, not even the weather and not even us. We had put too much work into the initial preparations, so we soldiered on. 
Fortunately, by the time the Youth Marching Band from Kings Norton arrived, the sun was out again and there was a lull in the gale force winds. Sadly, also by then, two of the four gazebos had been damaged beyond repair by the wind.
Look closely at the photograph below and you will see Councillor Peter Douglas-Osborn with the damaged frame of what was, until the wind had it's way, the gazebo over the Checking Station (seen in the foreground).
Despite the best efforts of the weather to spoil the day, the majority of those that did turn out to participate in the walk told us that they had a wonderful day and enjoyed themselves immensley.
Update July 2011: It gives me a great deal of pleasure to let you know, on behalf of the organizers, that the event raised £1,941.22 for the charity, Help for Heroes.
THANK YOU !!
(Photographs © DAB-P 2011)
