Swaffham Rugby Club 120 mile walk

Peter Harris will be 80 next year and has already completed some long distance walks since his retirement from rugby 30 years ago. Last year he did a sponsored walk to raise funds for the Rugby Club, and Swaffham & Litcham Home Hospice, and having walked from Kings Lynn to Great Yarmouth he has decided this year to walk back to Kings Lynn from The Britannia Pier.

He will start on 8th September in Great Yarmouth and aims to be at King's Lynn by 16th September at the latest, giving him 9 days maximum to complete the 120 mile route via the lanes and tracks of Norfolk.

When asked what gave him the desire to complete this challenge at his age, he replied……

“I attended a rugby playing school so there was no option to play soccer...except in the playground at lunch with a tennis ball. I played for Emanuel for six years and then joined Westminster Bank, where I played for The Old Boys for three years. During my two years of National Service in the UK and Germany I represented the regiment, and upon discharge turned out for the National Westminster Bank at scrum-half, being small and somewhat elusive. I then moved out onto the wing and eventually ended up as a full back, having a fairly safe pair of hands and a reasonable right boot.....but I could not place kick! I ended my playing days in 1986 at the age of 47 when I cut my right ankle on a flint along the boot line playing against Midland Bank and had 16 stitches. I thought someone was trying to tell me something so I took up marathon running and have gradually progressed to long distance walking as the years took over.

My aim this year is to raise £1000 for the Youth Section at Swaffham Rugby Club where I have been a member for several years. Each year kit and equipment becomes more expensive, yet seems to wear out quicker. I may not be able to play for them anymore but this is one way I can show my support.

Hopefully others out there will feel the same and donate generously”