Wyvern Probus Walk Report 7th January 2026

          

Halt – Who goes there. The Keys – Whose Keys?-   David Caines’s Keys.

No, not the Tower of London but the Village Green in Exton - but more of the ‘keys’ later.

The Green was the meeting point for our first walk of 2026 organised and led by Charles Stewart. Joining Charles were David Mitchell, Chris Mitchel, David Caines Mike Stephens. Martin Waddington and Richard Ward. There was, as we met, a slight drizzle in the air but that soon dissipated and for most of the walk it was dry and sunny.  Charles had planned an approximately four-mile circular walk through Exton Park, as far as Fort Henry, and back to Exton. Luch at 12.30 pm at the Twisted Trout in Empingham, the pub in Exton is currently closed.

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We set off at 9.50 am, through the village to join the Viking Way on the edge of Exton Park. Shortly afterward we met a dog walker who warned us of sheet ice further along the bridleway. Sure enough, just past the cemetery we encountered a stretch of frozen water on the path, a reminder of the recent icy conditions. We continued the walk with Tunneley wood on our right until we reached the end of the wood and a fork in the path.  A turn to the right would have taken us along a mile long bridleway straight to Fort Henry. Charles suggested a slightly longer route, which we took, turning left and continuing along the Viking Way for a half mile or so to join a long straight path heading due east to Osprey Wood. At the point where Osprey Wood meets Toll Bar Spinney, we descended a long and steep set of steps into a wooded valley. Once we were all safely down, we stopped to enjoy a welcome winter warmer supplied by Charles accompanied by the Jaffa Cakes.

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We caried on walking along the attractive valley for a quarter of a mile to reach the edge of Fort Henry Lake with a view across the lake to Fort Henry. Walking alongside the lake we reached the bridge and then the bridleway that would lead us back to Exton, a distance of 1.6 miles. A short distance along the path there is a junction, the left turn being the one to take. By now the walkers, as is often the case, were somewhat strung out with David Caines and Richard some distance in front of the others. They did not turn left but continued on the right-hand path. Charles some way back, realised what they had done but could not contact them so the remainder of the group followed them. When they reached the junction of the Viking Way which they had passed earlier in the morning David and Richard realised their error! This error added another half mile to the walk.

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David and Richard were now well ahead of the rest, first back to Exton and subsequently first back to the pub in Empingham. David switched off his car, went to lock it and could not find his keys - his house keys also attached.  After a thorough search he concluded that he had driven away from Exton with his car keys on the roof! He then phoned his wife Liz to ask her to come and rescue him but she was out with a group of friends so there would be a delay. David already knew that the spare key wouldn’t work as it needed a new battery.

By now David and Chris Mitchell had arrived. It was now 12.45 pm so we went into the pub to explain the situation and ask for lunch to be delayed. David Mitchell, suggested that he would drive David C. back to Exton to conduct a search for the keys, this they did. Whilst they were searching the rest of us, minus Martin who could not stay for lunch, sat at the dining table with our drinks and a couple of packets of crisps. The two Davids returned having had no success in finding the keys so we then enjoyed our much-delayed lunch.

Though somewhat longer than planned the walk was very enjoyable, the weather kind and the company, as ever, delightful. However the lessons to be learned, we decided are: The Walk Leader needs to be at or near the front and don’t leave keyless entry car keys on the roof of the vehicle!

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To conclude the Lost Keys Saga David kept us informed of subsequent events by email which are repeated below:

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“After much liaison between Liz and me it was agreed that David would take me back to Billesdon and I would stay with him until Liz C arrived home.

Liz M made us both a cup of coffee and we all watched Katie Boulter playing tennis in New Zealand while we waited for Liz C to arrive.

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Having got into the house I grabbed the spare key fob and we rushed off to buy some suitable batteries, changed it over and the whizzed off to Empingham to, hopefully, retrieve my car.

Everything worked and all is well that ends well.

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I will contact the Police in Oakham to register the loss and hope that some good soul found it and handed it in, and if not after a suitable period I will have to bite the bullet and invest in a replacement key fob

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Many thanks to David and Liz Michell for their support this afternoon.

Thursday - Good Afternoon Everyone Part 2 of “lost key saga”

This morning Liz insisted that we drove over to Exton in the belief that “I cannot be relied on to search or look methodically for anything” so we dutifully drove over to Exton and walked further down the road that David and I had explored yesterday.

I detoured off to talk to the school to see if anyone had handed them in and whilst I was talking to the Secretary Liz phoned me to say that she had found the keys. Typical, isn’t it, and would you believe it they still work after a night on the grass verge.

 I am now taking her out to lunch at the Manton Garden Centre.

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Richard Ward

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