A significant milestone was recently reached when the Algarve Wednesday Walkers (AWW) celebrated the 20th Anniversary of their foundation.
The Group was founded in 1996 by the late Maurice Clyde who decided there should be a separate section of his already existing Saturday Walkers for those wanting more serious walking.
One of their earliest objectives was to recreate an old pilgrims´ walking trail across the Algarve from Alcoutim to Cape St. Vincent. This was achieved in 1998 and it became known as the Via Algarviana / Algarve Way, a joint name given to the trail by the AWW together with the environmental group Almargem.
Since then the AWW has walked regularly all over the Algarve, into the Alentejo and into Spain; indeed they must by now be about the oldest organised walking group in the Algarve.
The event was celebrated with a walk, shortened somewhat because of the heat, near Poço Barreto and a lunch at nearby Alambique Restaurant. The lunch was presided over by Myriam Lo Isaac, and Rod Frew, the last ones still walking who were present at the beginning.
Amongst the other 50 celebrants were Esmé Clyde, Maurice´s widow; Judy Cooper, widow of Ian Cooper another founder member, both of whom had come over specially from the UK; Tony Webster and Ricky Cruz both of whom were on the inaugural walk.
Rod Frew gave an address in which he praised the contributions made by so many members over the years towards the success and continuity of the group, in particular Hon. Secs. Lindsey Henley Welch, Janet Summerfield and the current one David Littlewood; Paul Akehurst de Visme, Mike Pease, David Littlewood, Terry Ames and Rod Frew, organisers of many memorable walking events; and all the leaders who had enabled members to see and get to know the beautiful Algarve countryside and coastline.
