L&DRoWG Celebrated its 50th Anniversary

In June 2019 the Luddesdown and District Rights of Way Group celebrated their 50th Anniversary.

The founders of our group, Ray & Eiley Bassett fell in love with Luddesdown, spending their entire married life at Ha’penny Cricket in Henley Street. 

They were passionate about keeping footpaths open and accessible.  Following discussions about the 1968 Countryside Act and Definitive Map Review they had the idea of creating a walking group.  In June 1969, Luddesdown & District Rights of Way Group was launched!   

The tranquility of the whole village came under threat in 1982 when the MOD purchased large swathes of Luddesdown’s farmland for mine-laying exercises.   After a year or so of intensive campaigning, the Action Group was victorious – the farmland was sold on again and become an organic farm, now being turned into a vineyard.

`More than just a club’ wrote Ray: `Walking groups like ours offer members the benefits of pooled knowledge and experience, as well as companionship that makes for lasting friendships. It can also influence the way society values and protects public access to the beautiful countryside that our county has to offer.’ 

The Group's objectives are to foster the caring enjoyment of the countryside by walkers and riders using the lawful rights of way; the promotion of better relations between path users, land owners and farmers; the solution of local rights of way difficulties through active liaison with similar non-statutory bodies and with the Highway Authority and community service through voluntary clearance and way-marking of local rights of way as approved by the Highway Authority.