Pennine Way Pals Reunited

Adrian Wills, Class of 1976, contacted CHS's External Relations team in 2021 to try to reconnect with an old school friend, Chris Jones, who along with schoolmate Russell Good had walked the Pennine Way with him in 1977. 

This year, the three of them finally managed to meet up. We caught up with Adiran to find out more:

"Chris and Russell were both day scholars and I along with other Wills family members (Graham, Helen, Sheila & Julie) all boarded albeit not all at the same time. Rusell and I have been in touch for some time exchanging the odd email and Christmas cards but actually got together in person in 2019 after some 42 years! We had both tried to locate Chris without success but Chris mentioned that he had seen a piece requesting his whereabouts in an Old Wacs communication and we finally made contact with him earlier this year.

We all met with our wives on the weekend 18-19th November just gone and had a great get together along with tales from our expedition all those years ago.

I have attached a few photos, those back then were 35mm slides and are a little grainy along with the three "elderly" versions of ourselves today!"

1977

Cross Fell-August 1977 (L-R Wills, Jones, Good)

Pennine Way Finish-Kirk Yetholm, Scotland

Pennine Way Finish with Eric Hatton from Padiham, who soloed the walk.

2023

18th November 2023, Castle Pulverbatch, Shropshire (L-R Good, Wills, Jones)

The three of us consulting the “Pennine Way Companion” by Alfred Wainwright 20th November 2023.

If you'd like to try and reconnect with an old friend from your time at School please reach out to us on er@chschool.co.uk or 0161 488 3341. 

Please not the ER office will be closed for the holidays until 2nd January 2024 but we'll be very happy to help you when we're back in.