My first glimpse of St.Botolph's church tower,through the trees,from about half a mile.
see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Botolph
The memories of my long distance walk in the year 2000,came flooding back,upon seeing this tower.In the year 1998,whilst a motorcycle despatch rider,I was sent to Iken,Suffolk on a delivery,but upon arrival,the recipient wasn't there and I had to wait a couple of hours to make my delivery.In that time I visited the church at Iken,dedicated to St.Botolph and was so touched by the story of how the church roof burned down and the parishioners,alone,rebuilt the church,that I decided there and then that one day,I'd walk there.Well,in January 2000,I began my walk.I decided to walk there passing as many churches dedicated to St.Botolph as I could.This had been the second.After leaving here I passed a further seven,before reaching my goal,at 12 noon on St.Botolph's Day,June 17th.Along the way,I met the former Bishop of Chelmsford,the father of my own church's vicar,who thought my efforts commendable as I was raising money for charity.He said he'd make a few calls.I never heard from him again.But,when I reached Iken,a church service had been arranged,without my knowledge and there were over a dozen persons from all corners of England,some had come vast distances(Derby,Newcastle,London)and the local vicar had forgone his summer fete at his main church at Orford,a few miles away,all at the behest of the former Bishop of Chelmsford,to take part in a celebration of the life of St.Botolph,as a fitting climax to my walk.All attendees were associated with St.Botolph in some way.
see http://www.st-botolphs.org.uk/St_botolph.htm