THE MAYOR of Reading, Cllr Rachel Eden, has begun the second leg of the beating of the bounds, which sees her walking the boundaries of Reading.
A centuries old tradition, it is the first time the mayor of Reading has completed the walk for 100 years and will raise funds more Cllr Eden’s chosen mayoral charities.
She began the boundary walk on Tuesday, August 30, setting off from The Wokingham Road by Sol Joel Park.
From there, she headed through the University of Reading’s Whiteknights Campus, where she was joined by Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Robert Van de Noort; MP for Reading East, Matt Rodda; President of Reading University Student Union, Sheldon Allen; and former Mayor, David Stevens.
She was also joined by members of Acre (the Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality), who are one of the charities the funds from the walk will go on to help.
She also invited members of the public to take part as well.
After completing the first two legs of the planned route, which follows the boundary of Reading, Cllr Eden today began the third leg, which began on Pierces Hill, Tilehurst.
The route will see her cross the Thames with the help of Reading Sea Cadets as she heads along the boundary lines into Caversham before completing the circuit in Newtown.
Cllr Eden said: “Every single part of this route is publicly accessible, so anyone can do it, you don’t need special permission.
“We’ll also be leaving little painted kindness rocks for people to find.”She said also that the journey so far had been amazing: “I cannot express how exciting it’s been.
“It’s been a lovely experience both meeting people along the way and having a chat, as well as with the people who’ve come with me – it’s very relaxed way of spending time with someone.”
Despite having to plan the route herself, she said also that there were parts of Reading she was seeing in a new way.
“There were parts which I hadn’t actually walked that specific part, I just knew they will work so some of it was brand new to even me, and it’s just been an incredible experience.”
Cllr Eden is expected to complete the second 16 mile walk, consisting of legs 3 and 4, by 6pm today.
Copies of the map of the route are available to buy in Reading Town Hall and Museum and The Hexagon.
Copies are also available in Central, Tilehurst, Battle, Caversham, Palmer Park, Whitley, and Southcote Libraries.
To sponsor the Mayor’s team, please visit www.reading.gov.uk.
All funds raised are being donated to the Mayor’s charities, which are Parenting Special Children, The Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality and Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice.
