Walking Memories

Deborah Fox

Deborah was a wonderful person and is sorely missed. She was an absolute force at Paths for All - a mentor, a great manager, a lovely friend and respected colleague. Deborah met every conversation with the warmest and infectious smile. Working for a walking charity and with experience of journalism, she inspired a real love and knack for storytelling - how to find, capture and share heart-warming personal stories. Mother to Ailsa and Louie the pup, she was absolutely kept on her toes <3

Jo Knowlton

I met Jo during our university studies. As arty misfits, we gelled quickly. We'd regularly meet for a coffee and a walk - as we lived close to the city centre. Several years after uni, she got her first dog, Chino. She would take him out on walks around the local park, woodlands and longer trails. Jo sadly passed away in 2024 from Motor Neurone Disease. She was robbed of her ability to walk, but despite the hardships, she was a warrior. When I'm on the routes we did, I remember our walks.

Duncan

When I was young, my papa would take us out on walks and woodland trails. He’d make up games for us like counting birds or collecting leaves. And on holidays, he was always the first one up, ready to head out for a wander. No matter where we went, he’d find a long walk for us, and he’d always say, “Och, it’s not that far, we’ll just walk it,” even though it was never just a wee walk.So now, whenever I’m on holiday, I make a point of finding a walking route, and it makes me think of him.

Martyn

Family walks were a Sunday ritual growing up - dad striding up the hill, mum wrangling me and my sister. Dad loved putting his botany student hat on, pointing out the different plants and trees. If he ever spotted mushrooms, we’d be there for ages, crouched in the mud. Near the top was a huge rock, and my sister and I would race to climb it, dad cheering us on. Revisiting now, the rock is so much smaller than we remember, but it always brings back lovely memories of Sunday walks with dad.