Mickleover couple Sandra and Andy Ward have hung up their high-vis vests after 10 years of leading Derby’s most popular Ramblers Wellbeing walk – a group that at its peak welcomed 67 walkers and provided a vital social lifeline for many. Derby City Council’s Livewell service organises these popular walks across Derby in partnership with The Ramblers.
Over the last decade, Sandra has completed 475 walks and Andy 436, clocking up an impressive 3350 miles between them.
It all began when Sandra was made redundant. A keen walker, she had previously set up a lunchtime walking group at work and valued the chance to get outside for an active break.
She explains: “Colleagues felt happier and more energised in the afternoon and we noticed sickness reduced. I saw the wellbeing benefits first-hand of getting away from desks to walk for 30 minutes. When I was made redundant, I felt lost and wanted to find something I could do outdoors in my community.”
After a friend told her about Livewell, Sandra contacted Paul McGinty, who organises the free walks which are led by volunteers, and are open to everyone – including well-behaved four-legged friends.
Sandra completed walk leader training in December 2015 and launched the Mickleover Community Walk on 11 January 2016, with 13 people joining her for that first outing. Word soon spread about the friendly Monday morning three-mile walk around the suburb, which finished with a cuppa at Mickleover Community Centre.
“A Monday was important as lots of people are lonely at weekends and it sets the week off to a positive start. We’ve had people of all ages join us, from parents with babies to people in their late eighties,” says Sandra.
“I’ve loved seeing friendships grow over the years – including my own. Widowers who wouldn’t have connected otherwise now meet separately and enjoy a new social life.”
The Monday daytime walk was soon complemented by a Thursday evening walk that Andy and other people who were working in the day could join. This ran successfully for four years.
When Andy retired at the end of 2016, he joined Sandra as a co-leader, allowing the couple to offer a wider variety of walking routes in places such as Darley Park, Allestree Park, Calke Abbey, and many more.
Andy explains: “I’ve always enjoyed map reading, so we started venturing further afield for our three-mile meanders. We encouraged car shares so everyone could take part. The hardest part was finding a café at the end that could accommodate so many of us!”
Sandra and Andy recce every route at least once beforehand, ensure everyone’s safety on the day and have organised a whole host of social events. These include an annual Christmas celebration, where prizes donated by Tesco are awarded to the walkers who have completed the most miles that year.
Other activities have included summer picnics, afternoon teas, barn dances, curry nights and tribute nights. Impressively, the group has raised around £3,000 for charity over the years, in memory of Andy’s mum and other members’ loved ones, as well as for MS Society, Parkinson’s UK and Leukaemia UK.
Asked about their most memorable walks, Sandra recalls one particularly wet Thursday evening: “We were secretly hoping no-one would show up because the rain was so heavy – but one person did. Luckily, the weather cleared up, and we were all glad we did it in the end.”
Andy remembers a winter walk in icy conditions, when a group of them ended up “ice skating” down a hill in Mickleover: “The ground conditions had changed very rapidly from our recce to the actual walk. Fortunately, everyone looked after each other and no-one was injured.”
Despite their many adventures, Sandra and Andy say their favourite route is close to home – across the Radbourne fields and along paths to Radbourne Hall, which they say offers beautiful views on a summer’s evening.
Anne Hinks, from Mickleover, has been walking with the group for nine years. She first met Sandra in Tesco, where Sandra noticed she was wearing walking boots and invited her to join.
It was the start of a vital support network for Anne, whose husband was seriously ill with dementia and went on to sadly die just three months later.
Anne says: “Sandra and Andy showed immense support and compassion, introducing me to the walking group and to like‑minded people who have become friends for life. The walks were a beautiful distraction from daily hospital visits and then from my grief. My husband was my best friend, so when he died, the walk and all the extra activities it offered prevented me – and so many others – from being lonely. It’s so much more than a walk.”
Jane Karamucki, also from Mickleover, took part in the very first walk and has supported the group over the years by listening to Sandra’s ideas and welcoming new members.
She said: “Sandra and Andy are such a lovely couple and genuinely care about every member of the walk. The popularity of the group speaks volumes. I don’t think Sandra realised how many people the walk would go on to support when she set it up all those years ago. When I fell and broke my wrist while rollerskating two years ago with my grandson, my confidence took a big hit. Thanks to Sandra and the group, I had both a reason and the encouragement I needed to start walking with them again. There are many examples of people having their self-esteem boosted after an operation or a fall, as well as men who might not normally open up choosing to share their problems.”
Sandra and Andy are understandably sad to be handing over the leadership baton but are looking forward to continuing with the group as walkers rather than leaders.
Sandra concludes: “We’ve loved leading the walks and we’ve received a lot of love back. We’re pleased to hand over the group to such brilliant new leaders. Being involved has kept us fit, on our toes and helped us make lovely friends. We’ve been rewarded by seeing the enjoyment the group brings to people’s lives. One lady told me that the walk had saved her life. You can’t get more rewarding than that! We couldn’t have done any of it without the walkers turning up every week, rain or shine.”
Paul McGinty, Physical Activity and Health Coordinator at Derby City Council, said:
“I’d like to thank Sandra and Andy for their outstanding commitment to the Mickleover Community Walking Group over the last 10 years. Without them, this group simply wouldn’t exist. Their dedication has changed the lives of so many people in Mickleover – helping them feel less isolated, make new friends and, of course, improve their health and fitness through walking.”
Although the Mickleover Community Group is now at full capacity, there are a wide range of other friendly, accessible walks in Derby, all led by welcoming leaders. Details of these walks can be found on the Livewell website.
