Poynton Pool

December 19, 2018.

POYNTON POOL, MIDDLEWOOD WAY, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, THE BOAR'S HEAD AT HIGHER POYNTON, DAVENPORT GOLF COURSE, PRINCES INCLINE AND THE KINGFISHER WETHERSPOONS AT POYNTON

Distance: 4-7 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Dry and mild.

Walkers: Peter Beal, Alastair Cairns, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Mark Gibby, Alan Hart, Tony Job, John Jones, Terry Jowett, Chris Owen, Jock Rooney with Tip, Ken Sparrow, Geoff Spurrell, George Whaites and Barry Williams.

Apologies: Mickey Barrett, George Dearsley and Hughie Hardiman.

Leaders: Various. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: 68, London Road North, Poynton.

Starting time: 10am onwards. Finishing time: 2pm onwards.

For the second week of traditional seasonal celebrations we were rewarded with fine weather and a large turn-out. This annual fixture, starting with bacon butties, mince pies and mulled wine from your diarist's house, has always been slightly chaotic and anarchic. This was no exception.

There was a welcome return to the fold by John Jones, who had not developed a noticeable sailor's roll since he opted for the life of a jolly jack tar on his narrowboat.

In contrast there was the end of an era at our first watering hole, The Boar's Head, where Gordon Yoxall had departed after two decades as landlord. Gordon will be sadly missed for the quality of his home-cooked food which saw the pub packed every lunchtime.

On this occasion the vault was packed with Wednesday Wanderers, but the lounge was sparsely populated. We were given a warm welcome but it was ironical, in this technicological age, that neither the barmaid, nor the chef, nor the landlord possessed sufficient expertise to be able to turn off the TV !

After our unusual breakfasts of butties, pies and wine, we formed into separate groups, heading off in different directions at different times with one firm purpose in mind – to reach The Boar's Head shortly after it opened at noon.

Nobody will be surprised to learn that despite setting off last after clearing up, your diarist was first through the pub door a nano-second after it opened. It is to the credit of the new incumbents that the Black Sheep bitter at £3-20 was in fine fettle from the first pint.

Once again we departed in various factions and directions as we headed for the Kingfisher Wetherspoons for our final pints of the afternoon. Nobody could complain about the price (from  £1-99 for Ruddles) or the variety of the cask bitters available.

But was it really necessary to inform Jock he must not leave his gentle collie Tip tied up outside the pub ? There may be good and widely-accepted reasons for barring dogs from inside pubs where the provision of meals is important. So at Wetherspoons in Poynton you cannot bring your pets inside or leave them outside. Your views on a postcard please.

As next Wednesday falls on Boxing Day there will be no organised walk for the Wednesday Wanderers, although individuals may of course make private arrangements with their chums.

There will, however, be the usual walk on Tuesday, New Year's Day, from Poynton Sports Club car park at 10.30am. This is the day when not only the gentle sex but other family members and friends are invited to join us for a return walk to The Miners Arms at Wood Lane Ends, Adlington, and where any spare mince pies, yule logs and tins of dates are shared around.

Happy wandering !