In early 2016 Rashiwe Bayisayi and myself started to explore walking routes from Brighton to London. It took quite some time and over 100 miles of footpaths, bridleways and byways {all thanks to Ordnance Survey Map APPs}.
It was Rashi’s idea to commemorate Zimbabwe’s Hero’s Day – {Second Monday in August} with something heroic in the UK. And a 100+ km 30 hour Walk seemed to fit that notion. So we set about planning. This was whilst we were a part of Ephraim Tapa’s ROHR/Zimbabwe Vigil – which we were funding at that time {another long story!!}.
History and Development
The 2016 Walk proved far too arduous to be completed over the two days – which included an over-night camping experience in Edenbridge, Kent. Since in the morning very few of the exhausted walkers could be roused. Indeed several had to retire with injuries to muscles and giant blisters. {we still feel bad about that to this day}. See the link to some photos of that ROHR Walk – with the ROHR Walk T Shirts {several are still available!! – but the web links on those T Shirts, are now incorrect}. Click for PHOTOS Here – uploaded in 2025 but all originally from 12-13th August 2016}
So Rashiwe and I refocused the Walk for Freedom {we changed the name once ZHRO was Formed in the October 2016} to use a gentler, mostly level route partly using the Downs Link at Henfield, West Sussex and onwards {see Details Here} and the Rivers Wey and Thames Navigation footpaths. It was a little shorter – but most importantly it was achievable! And the 3 ladies who walked the full route in around 30 hours need to be respected. Myself {john Burke} could only manage Brighton to Guildford Railway Station before their pain from all my blisters beat my desire to walk any further – I was driven home!!
So the new route is Brighton Pier to Devils Dyke, Cross Country to Henfield, to pick up the Downslink. Then stop at Christ’s Hospital Railway Station {for those who want to join us there and for those who may want to retire after 40km}. Then onto Guildford Railway Station by nightfall {approx: see schedule being produced shortly} and for those who wish to join us or leave us. Lastly overnight, with a dawn cup of coffee at (what used to be Geno’s Café at Walton-on-Thames {now the Wild Brunch, Cowey Sale Walton Lane, Walton-On-Thames, KT12 1QP}, finally onto Hampton Court Railway Station. to end the Walk for Freedom.
So a big hats off to Rashiwe Bayisayi {route leader}, Salom Nkiwane and guest Patience Musasawa who completed our first Walk for Freedom.
We were also in a position to fund a drone video production of the Walk from Brighton to Devil’s Dyke and a little beyond. {Click DRONE VIDEO item to play it – please also listen to the musical accompaniment too}