Following last year’s epic success in the Oxfam Trailwalker challenge Wessex Archaeology are entering three teams in this year’s Trailwalker challenge. This year the teams come from across Wessex Archaeology’s offices with staff members from Salisbury, Sheffield and the Maidstone offices taking part. 

 

In true archaeological fashion the teams are named after the types of fill recorded in features! Team Primary is made up by four tough Sheffield lads – Chris Hirst, Matt Tooke, Lincoln Spencer and Jack Laverick; Secondary, comprising Salisbury based managers Gareth Chaffey and Simon Cleggett with Alex Grassam (Sheffield) and Phoebe Olsen (Salisbury) and Tertiary, Dave Norcott (Salisbury) bravely takes the challenge on again with Rachel Williams (Salisbury), Andy Callen (Salisbury) and Will Santamaria (Maidstone).

 

Collectively they are the Wessex Walkers the link below will take you to their Just Giving page where they are trying to raise £4200 for Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ten Tors Challenge (TTC) is a major event for youth teams taking place in May each year – 400 teams each of 6 teenagers take on hikes of 35, 45 or 55 miles (56, 72 or 88 km) over the difficult terrain of Dartmoor, visiting 10 nominated tors  and check points in under two days. The teams must be self-sufficient, carrying all that they need to complete their route and stay out overnight.

 

The TTC is organised by the Army, specifically Headquarters 1st Artillery Brigade & South West, from its Moor Group Headquarters at Okehampton Camp. It is assisted by the Royal Navy (with manpower and helicopters), the Royal Air Force, the Dartmoor Rescue Group, the Police and British Red Cross: between them they oversee the participants and ensure that none comes to lasting harm.

 

In his ‘other’ job as a Reservist, Major Toby Gane (a Senior Project Manager at Wessex Archaeology’s Salisbury office) who works at Headquarters 1st Artillery Brigade & South West, supported the TTC by working over four days in the TTC Operations Room at Dartmoor Camp helping to co-ordinate military and civilian agency support to the event and teams. This included helping co-ordinate evacuations from the moor, some by helicopter, when required.

 

Chief Executive Chris Brayne says: ‘Wessex Archaeology is delighted to support the Ten Tors Challenge by releasing staff who are Reservists to assist with the set-up and running of this important event.’

 

 

 

The staff at the Salisbury head office entered into the Christmas spirit this year by buying raffle tickets for the corporate gifts. The prizes included: spirits, wines, biscuits and other festive goodies, all of which had been kindly given to us by our clients and suppliers. 

 

The draw was yesterday and there were many happy winners! But the big winner this year will be the Harvey Warren Trust, a local organisation that raises money for charities related to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. We will be sending them all the money raised by the raffle – an amazing £150! 

 

 

 

Once again Wessex Archaeology is wishing clients and colleagues seasonal greetings with our own festive e-card. Our Graphics team had a bit of fun on a cave art theme this year, click on the arrow to run the animation, we hope you enjoy it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition, other members of the Wessex Archaeology Sheffield team manned our stall, selling our recent publications, and organised activities with the Young Archaeologists’ Club. Further information can be found on Sheffield News Room.

 

 

 

As feared at Checkpoint 9, the heavens finally opened not long after our Trailwalker team had left for the big climb up Castle Hill, which meant a very soggy finish to their challenge. However, they pulled together, supported each other, and crossed the line at Brighton Racecourse in a time of 27 hours and 36 minutes.

 

 

Hats off to Mark Williams (Team Leader London & SE), Dave Norcott (Geoarchaeology & Environmental Manager), Susan Clelland (Senior Fieldwork Project Officer) and Vi Pieterson (Heritage Consultant). Special mention too to their Support Team lead by Lisa McCaig (Project Officer), with Chris Brayne (Chief Executive), Andy Crockett (Regional Manager South) and Rob De’Athe (Project Manager). This is a fantastic achievement that all at Wessex Archaeology are very proud of – well under the target 30 hours and all four of the team finishing together (despite some considerable pain).

 

With pledges still coming in, we’re looking likely to surpass £3k in fund-raising. This will be double the original target, helped enormously not only by friends and family, but also by advance sponsorship from Opti-Cal Survey, Thomson Ecology and Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC), as well as fantastic support from Waitrose for essential provisions during the challenge – thanks everyone for your immense support!

 

Now, long hot baths and soft comfy beds beckon!

 

Our collection so far from pledges and sponsors totals £3,280. The team are are delighted with all your support and generosity, many thanks.

 

 

 

Checkpoint 9 and dawn breaks cold, grey and slightly damp. A pink glow to the east tells us the sun is about to rise, but spots on the windscreen also herald the rain that is forecast. Checkpoint 8 to 9 is the longest stretch of Trailwalker and we wait for our team, Mark, Dave, Vi and Susan, all now walking through the pain barrier. For Operation Nightingale and Project Florence, we are privileged to work with service men and women, all heroes and do what little we can to help their rehabilitation process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Checkpoint 3 and our Trailwalkers are ploughing on at an impressive pace, with the first 30k knocked off in just 6 hours. The Gurkhas had everything impeccably well-organised from the free breakfast at the start, to the stirring sound of the Gurkha pipers blasting out Scotland the Brave as our team set off bang on 7am. Next stop will be Checkpoint 4, about 40km along the route, which will be about 3pm - getting close to halfway now!! Sponsorship continues to climb, and we're just short of £2.5k now, so anything spare will be very welcome indeed https://www.justgiving.com/Wessex-Archaeology/

 

 

So, the trucks were loaded in Rochester and Salisbury, and our intrepid band of Trailwalkers Mark, Dave, Susan and Vi, supported by our Chief Executive Chris alongside Lisa, Rob and Andy, have rendezvoused at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park start point and registered, alarmingly filling in next of kin forms. They then enjoyed an excellent complimentary carb-loading pasta tea courtesy of the Gurkhas. The organisation is second to none, even in some atrocious weather, but we are reassured the weather will be much improved for the team’s 7am start (ouch!) today. Sponsorship continues to flood in, with nearly £2.5k raised so far. This includes some fantastic generosity from, amongst many others, Opti-cal Survey Equipment, our strategic partners Thomson Ecology and the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC). Always room for a bit more sponsorship though…

 

 

 

 

Not put off by what is looking to be the hottest day of the year, Dave Norcott set off this morning from our Salisbury office to walk to Winchester. The walk, a mere 28 miles (45 km), is part of his training for the much longer Trailwalker 2015 on 25 July (100 km!).

 

The Wessex Team is raising money for Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust, so please give generously.