For several years we have taken part in the sponsored bicycle ride each September in support of the Devon Historic Churches Trust as part of their annual Bike, Ride and Stride day.

This has usually involved several of us and covers sometimes over 20 local churches and chapels and over 20 miles. Brixton church has benefited twice over recent years from generous grants from the DHCT, helping us with the costs of repairs to the windows and repairs to the floor.

This year we thought we would involve members from the three churches of the new Yealmside Mission Community of Brixton, Yealmpton and Wembury, and would make it a walk round the parishes to include Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo as well the above churches.

We made it clear that people could join us for just the first leg from Brixton to Yealmpton if they liked or to include any leg of the walk. In the event, 19 people and three dogs turned up at Brixton church, which was a great support, and we set of at 9.30 a.m. in dull weather to walk along the edge of the fields parallel with the A379 to Yealmpton church.

Three gallant walkers left us there, and the rest continued on by footpaths and lanes, via Puslinch Bridge to Noss Mayo church. One of the sprightly walkers from Noss persuaded us to enter her church, where she had arranged for a wonderful team of local ladies to provide us with an excellent lunch of filter coffee, cakes and biscuits. That unexpected interlude was so enjoyed that we missed Low Tide to cross the Voss, so had to walk round via Bridgend to Newton Ferrers church!

A further (but enjoyable) delay was to await the ferry to cross the river Yealm. But the ferryman returned promptly from home and we were soon on our way again, to walk along the delightful coastal footpath overlooking Wembury Bay and the Mew Stone. The sun started to break through and we arrived at Wembury church at 3 p.m., between weddings (see the photograph), where four more left us before the walk via Train Road, Spriddlestone, the head of Cofflete Creek and Combe, and so back to Brixton by 5 p.m. The whole walk covered 13 miles, a most satisfactory event, and we were most grateful to those who sponsored us: £280 from Brixton and £350 from Noss Mayo. Half the money raised is returned by the DHCT to Brixton and Noss Mayo (the chief sponsors) with a small proportion to Yealmpton.

John Fisher, Parish Organiser