Meet our Walk Leaders

Gill Mattock

Eastbourne Walking Champion

I trained as a walk leader in 2005 and have been leading walks for local rambling groups ever since.  I also regularly lead walks for social groups, charities and visiting ramblers.  Since retiring I have had more time to walk and have tackled national trails like the South Downs Way and round the Isle of Wight.  This year I am attempting the 1000 Mile Challenge.  In 2019 I was appointed Eastbourne’s Walking Champion where my role is to encourage and support walking activity in all its forms.  I love the Downs and enjoy sharing my favourite walks with others.  

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Alan Wenham

I am a native of Eastbourne, and in spite of my great years still find the town fascinating. Everywhere one looks there is a great story to tell. I deliver around thirty talks a year on local history and some of my talks can be found on YouTube. I lead two Eastbourne history walks last year and enjoyed the company. This year I have two new ones to present.

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Kim Adams

I trained as a tour guide in Lincoln in 2006 and led walking tours of that wonderful Norman city, before moving back to East Sussex in 2015. Eastbourne presented a new challenge for me as a tour guide but I’ve found that the stories are just as interesting. I currently offer guided walks throughout the summer months along Eastbourne promenade as well as around the Meads area. Details on my website, www.eastbournewalks.com. My main interest is in social history and how key people have influenced the development of a place. I particularly enjoy telling the story of the 7^th Duke of Devonshire and how his influence made Eastbourne what it is today.

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Alan Hibbert

Coming originally from Kent, I spent many years rambling and leading walks in the Kentish Weald, Medway Valley and North Downs. In 2004 I took to the road and lived in my motorhome for ten years, exploring everywhere in these beautiful British Isles from Lands’ End to John O’ Groats and Cape Wrath to the South Foreland. I then settled in Eastbourne where I now spend my time on the beautiful South Downs leading walks with a local rambling group.

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John Riley

My wife and I have been keen ramblers since the mid-1970s, when we joined the Eastbourne Rambling Club. When I retired from work in 2011 I joined the Polegate Rambling Club and became Club Secretary the following year. We lead for both Clubs, in all around 12 walks per year usually about 10 miles in length. Our holidays are always in the UK. We book self-catering accommodation and spend our time walking. But we are always glad to come home to our lovely South Downs, which we never tire of walking.

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Paul & Barbara Agent

We have been active member's of two local walking groups for several years, regularly leading walks. Enjoy the company of our fellow walkers and the great scenery we have in the local area. Since our retirement have walked in many different areas of the U.K. and abroad.  A great hobby to keep us fit, to enjoy time with our twin Granddaughters.

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Bob Breakey

Since moving to Eastbourne, I got into walking and have led walks for local rambling groups. I was fortunate to be able to combine my love of walking with a keen interest in history and archaeology when I took part as a volunteer in a series of archaeological digs on the Seven Sisters. In the intervening years, I have helped to lead guided walks for the National Trust that take in the history and archaeology of the Downs.

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Tim Jacobs

Tim Jacobs has worked for Royal Mail for fifteen years, and has an affectionate interest in the history of this 400 year old institution. I am also interested in Eastbourne history. Last year, I led my first Vintage Post Box Walk, explaining how our iconic post boxes have evolved over the last 150 years or so. It proved so popular I will be taking the walk again this year. Given that I walk for a living, I don’t do much recreational walking, but my favourite route is from Friston church, down through Crowlink hamlet to the sea.

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John & Theresa Hancock

We live in Old Town and have walked on the Downs and around Sussex for many years. In 2014 we joined Polegate Ramblers and have regularly walked with the group and have been acting as leaders since 2015. After retiring we have tried to do at least two or three rambles a week, and when we go away on holiday we enjoy exploring the countryside on foot.

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John Spencer

I have enjoyed walking since I was a boy and feel privileged to share my passion with seasoned walkers and new enthusiasts alike and have been a walk leader with TCV (The Conservation Volunteers) since moving to Eastbourne in 2016.  Apart from the health benefits, walking should be challenging, relaxing, therapeutic but above all enjoyable and these are the experiences I hope to share with others on the annual Walking Festival. I look forward to meeting you during these walks and hopefully we will learn along the way.

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Julie Ford

Julie Ford created Instepp® to simultaneously exercise the upper body and the legs with a 2.3kg resistance. “People often say that they haven’t got the time or money for the gym,” she explains. Instepp is a fun answer to keeping fit outside in the fresh air, individually, with family and friends or in the comfort of your own home. It’s a great aerobic strengthening workout for indoors —especially walking up and downstairs. Accredited by osteopaths and physiotherapists, Instepp provides ‘functional movement’ (using the whole body) as well as improving mental agility and physical fitness. “Your brain has to concentrate as you co-ordinate both your arm and leg movements” says Julie. “It’s such a simple idea — it’s ready to use any time, anywhere and it’s attainable, sustainable and fun”

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Richard Crook

Richard Crook is a local architect who has lectured widely on the development of Eastbourne in the Victorian period by the 7th Duke of Devonshire.  He has campaigned on a variety of issues including the retention and restoration of Victorian street furniture and helped to set up the Eastbourne Heritage Centre opposite the Winter Garden.  As a conservation architect he has worked on a number of  buildings including Harvey's Brewery, pubs, churches, Eastbourne Pier and local theatres.  Richard has also written a book 'Eastbourne in Detail' , is architectural advisor to the Eastbourne Society and a trustee of the Sussex Heritage Trust.   He has lead various walks around the town for local groups as well as the national Victorian Society.
 

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Mike

I have been leading walks for about 15 years now, firstly as a Scout, then as part of the University of Sussex Walking Society and most recently as part of the team behind The Big Lemon's Sunday walks. I have completed the South Downs Way, Thames Path, Cotswold Way, most of the North Downs Way and hopefully will have done the Vanguard Way by the end of the summer! In my real job I work on the railways.

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Josh Babarinde

Born and bred in Hampden Park, Josh represents the ward on Eastbourne Borough Council, having been elected in May 2021.

Josh has walked the length and breadth of Eastbourne, whether it's through mapping out the town as a local cub scout, pounding the streets as a doorstep campaigner, or out searching for more hidden gems when lockdown first hit.

Josh can't help but switch into tour guide mode when he hosts friends from outside of Eastbourne to stay in our town and takes them for a walk around all we have to offer!

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Peter Wheeler

A keen walker all my life, on moving to live in Eastbourne 2013 after living in retirement in Thailand and Cyprus for several years,  and finding an Eastbourne 'bonus', namely the South Downs, I joined both the U3A Stroll and Chat group and also the Age Concern Health walks and became a walk leader for both a couple of years later. Since then I have lead the Stroll & Chat group on various walks of around 4 to 5 miles every week including when permitted by law the past year. The walk I am planning to lead for the festival this year is one I took some of that group on in Summer 2018 as a  slightly harder 'extra curricular walk' and I will be inviting some to do it again with me when I check it out soon.

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Simon Hurt

Born and brought up in Eastbourne the  Downs have been a lifetime’s source of recreation and professional work.  Keenly interested in local and natural history this formed a foundation for much of my working life.  Except when away at university I have always lived and worked in Eastbourne.  I have only recently left Eastbourne Borough Council’s open spaces team where I helped manage the parks and gardens and, between 2013 and 2021, the town’s Downland estate.  When not specifically focussed on conservation or photography-related activities I walk a great deal and mountain bike on and off-road in the local area.

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Allison Caffyn

I was thrilled  to be asked to lead walks for the Eastbourne Walking Festival. I enjoy walking and set up a walking group - Sussex Rambles - about four years ago to share my love of walking and the Sussex countryside.  I particularly enjoy longer walks and recently challenged myself and my daughter to walk a marathon – we walked from Heathfield where we both live to Eastbourne via Alfriston, a very tiring 27 miles!    

Dogs are very welcome on my walks but I need to mention that my own dog is very friendly to anyone with two legs but isn’t so keen on four legs so dogs will need to be kept on a lead during the walks. 

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Margaret Winton

I have lived in or near Eastbourne all my life, with the exception of a few years in London.  I rode over the Downs as a child and as a teenager and then ran over them, and finally I am walking them.  I look forward to sharing one small part of this exceptional area with others on a Festival walk.

 

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 Alan Jones

I have lived in Eastbourne for 40 years and it was the Downs that were a main reason for me to return here after 3 years away. I have always loved walking in this area and I am now a keen member of a rambling group, leading 5 mile and 10 mile walks in the countryside. I also take regular walking holidays to explore the wonderful national trails we have in this country.

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 Andrew Durling

Andrew is keenly interested in the concept of pilgrimage and has founded the Eastbourne Pilgrimage Project to facilitate the rediscovery of old local pilgrimage routes and the development of new ones, as well as promoting the idea of pilgrimage as an added dimension to the enjoyment and appreciation of the landscape - together with its rich historic and cultural heritage - in and around Eastbourne. He has previously led a guided pilgrimage to the Holywell Spring in early 2021 as part of the inaugural Eastbourne Spring Water Festival, co-ordinated by Plastic Free Eastbourne, a social enterprise that he helps to run. He is also a director of the Eastbourne Eco Action Network, another social enterprise that works in collaboration with Eastbourne Borough Council to deliver a carbon neutral town by 2030. Promoting walking as a way of travelling across town and exploring the local area - as well as developing all aspects of one's physical, mental and spiritual well-being - is crucial to encouraging low-carbon lifestyles.

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Kath Boak

When I moved to Eastbourne in 2014 I joined 2 walking groups, and I walk with them regularly. But 2022 will be my first time of leading a walk in the Eastbourne Waking Festival. I have chosen a fairly easy walk on the Lower Downs, and I will combine it with a chat about one of Eastbourne’s famous ladies, Mary Ann Gilbert, who founded the allotment system.



 

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Richard Page

I joined Ramblers Holidays trips to France, Majorca, Malta and Gozo in my 40s, and I’ve enjoyed day trips in the UK from my homes near Nottingham Guildford Brighton and now Eastbourne. My motto is “walking for pleasure” – I love open countryside and exploring new pathways, most especially when the skies are blue, well, this is the Sunshine Coast! Eastbourne has everything one could wish for – expansive views on the Downs, little-used paths in abundance, busy paths for those who prefer them, undulating coastal paths, level paths on a beautiful seafront, lots of public parks and gardens. I’m very thankful for my surroundings and delighted to encourage others to explore and to enjoy a healthy walking lifestyle.

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Lindsey Gwynne
I have been walking with a local rambling club for 4 years now, taking my turn to lead, enjoying the spectacular views of the amazing landscape that we live in, and the camaraderie of my walking buddies. The walks I lead usually include stories of local or historical interest. I also enjoy occasional longer walks with friends and taking walking holidays to explore other parts of the UK. This is my third year as a Walking Festival walk leader.

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David Beer
I have lived in Eastbourne for 34 years and enjoy walking on the local Downland footpaths. I am a retired biology teacher with a keen interest in Natural History. For a number of years I have carried out biodiversity surveys for the British Trust for Ornithology, Sussex Ornithological Society and Butterfly Conservation.  I am Chairman of the Eastbourne group of the Sussex Wildlife Trust and have led walks focusing on birds and butterflies. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many walking holidays in the UK and further afield but our Downland is hard to beat both for spectacular views and the biodiversity of the chalk grassland.

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Liz Pearson

I have a love of walking the local downland and singing and have been doing both since I was a child. Join me for a short walk that combines these, from the start of the South Downs Way to Beachy Head. A hill to begin, but levelling out towards the Beachy Head Story Museum, where I will be sharing some songs about the place, both self-penned and traditional. There will also be a chance to explore the museum before we take in the incredible cliff view and return.

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Yanaëlle Thiran
Yanaëlle is a Belgian dance artist who moved to England in 2012 and have been living in Eastbourne since 2020. Her dance training journey took her from London Contemporary Dance School to Art Factory International (Italy), and from Trinity Laban to the University of Chichester. Now her portfolio includes various roles and projects as a contemporary dance teacher, performer, choreographer, and co-director of Company Concentric. You can find Yanaëlle teaching dance and training at Eastbourne Dance Space; practicing yoga on the beach; walking around town and improvising in all sorts of outdoor locations. Indeed, she doesn’t only dance in studios and theatres, but also performs live works or shoots dance films in spaces such as art galleries and public gardens. She has even performed at a railway station and hosted interactive performances online through Zoom. Taking part in Eastbourne Walking Festival 2021 inspired her to design the Performance Path. Follow it to enjoy four dance solos created in response to four particular places in Eastbourne.

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Gavin Boyd

After coming to Eastbourne in 2012 I realised that the best method of getting to know the county of East Sussex was to walk on as many paths and tracks as I could find. Consequently I joined three local walking clubs and my knowledge of this beautiful area grew rapidly. Over the following years I led many club walks both local to Eastbourne and also further afield.