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the Friend - Independent Quaker journalism since 1843
June 20, 2007
Wheel-life Quakers
Sports Quakers are beginning to appear after our recent request for information of them.
Here is something from the intrepid William West of Mount Street Meeting, Manchester.
William writes: 'Dear Friend Eye, I have cycled since I was nine nearly 50 years ago. Last September I decided it was time to begin to train up for Lands End to John o'Groats and I will do the 1,000 mile trip this August, Deus Volens. My trip will raise money for HIV counsellor training in Kenya. I have set up a blog billonbike that shares my progress, bits of bike lore including creative use of bananas - cyclists' best food. Richard Summers from Quaker Life hopes to travel part of the way with me as do some other F(f)riends and my Meeting are very supportive.
'The impact of my training on me has been enormous, I am fitter and feel better in myself than for years. I find cycling gives me much needed solitude and sometimes resembles Worship so my trip will be something of a pilgrimage.'
Did any of you feel a twinge of interest in Joycelin Dawes' entreaty to get on your bikes (and other sporting pursuits) in last week's Friend (paper edition)? Joycelin herself favours good hill hikes and is also a 'Nordic' walker - you may have seen such hikers with their long ski-sticks walking at a cracking pace. Eye did a quick survey in the office and environs to see if any of our colleagues and Friends could be described as sports Quakers. Our new production manager Jez Smith recalls early editions of Young Quaker being awash with sports news. He tells us that regional Young Friends used to play each other at hockey, but he has noted a distinct lack of interest in developing teams. Well, we suppose Quakers as a species don't develop competitive instincts.
Simon Best, the under-19s man who has been seen in whites, is apparently also a big Yorkshire cricket fan, and Jez supports Essex. Warwickshire also attracts Quakers. As for participating in something, Jez finds that 'ultimate frisbee', which he learned to play at a QUNO summer school, is popular at events. The editor hill-walks when she can get away from the computer screen, and also swims - 'very slowly, and quite old people overtake' - and the news editor cycles to work, but generally speaking, not a good tally. Joycelin may have a long campaign ahead to bestir us.
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