In celebration of the life of Pete Finley, not only a past chairman of the ABSP but a founder member of the association, a donation was made to the woodland trust, who in turn way-marked a path in one of their woods, the Fox and Parrot wood, and labelled it up as Pete's Path.
This brought together in one compact spot, Pete's love of the reat outdoors and the North East.
The Fox and Parrot wood is situated just outside the village of Craghead in North west Durham. For those who do not have an intimate knowledge of the area, it is about half way between Newcastle and Durham, with notable local tourist spots such as Beamish Open Air Museum and Beamish Hall, ancestral home of the Shaftoes, as in the nursery rhyme. The wood itself is quite newly planted and at present has magnificent views towards Stanley in the north west and to the Tyne valley towards the north east.
The path itself is at the Craghead end of the wood and is waymarked on a distinct path. Walking it in summer was easy walking, bu I would suggest that appropriate footwear be worn if venturing out in the winter months. In all the full path is probably less than a mile.
In addition to the way marking, there is a plaque noting Pete's achievements at the entrance to the wood which is nearest to the path.
If you are visiting the north east, for whatever reason, I can recommend a visit to the wood, for a bit of quiet contemplation in memory of a fine man.
Ian Burn, West Berks Scrabble Club
Details of the Fox and Parrot Wood can be obtained from
here.