Treasured times walking path of life together for Barnard Castle couple

A globetrotting Barnard Castle couple, Jean and Ian Martin, have enjoyed a double celebration to mark their 65th wedding anniversary and 60 years of Barnard Castle Ramblers, where they were stalwart members since the 1970s.

Although the couple went to school together – “I was in the top set, she was in the bottom,” joked Ian – it wasn’t until years later that they really got to know each other.

Both had served in the Royal Air Force, and both joined the RAFA (Royal Air Force Association) on returning to Barnard Castle.

At the time, the association met in a clubhouse next to the barracks.

Both are now long gone, replaced by Bowes Lyon House and Dunelm Court.

For more than 30 years they were actively involved with the RAFA.

Joan was secretary for 25 years and also served as welfare officer.

Ian carried the standard until it was laid up in the parish church.

The annual conference brought trips to various places, including the Isle of Man and Ostend; each September meant hours going door to door collecting for Wings Week.

Five years after the wedding, Barnard Castle Ramblers was formed by Joan Mathews and many others.

In early 1970, Joan and Ian went to a slide show by the Ramblers’ Association about the construction of Cow Green Reservoir.

They enjoyed a warm welcome, and when Joan’s parents were able to look after the children, the couple was able to join in their first rambles.

It wasn’t long before they were helping out on the committee: Joan as secretary, Ian as chairman and footpaths officer.

Part of the secretary’s duties included regular rambling reports in the Teesdale Mercury – originally hand-written and delivered to the office in person every Monday morning – and broadcasts on Radio Teesdale.

At the Ramblers Association’s 75th AGM, they were presented with a media certificate signed by TV presenter Julia Bradbury, president of the association at the time.

Although the Barney group has since become independent, both Joan and Ian remain supportive of the national Ramblers’ Association and its campaigning work.

“If it wasn’t for the Ramblers Association, many public rights of way would be lost and we wouldn’t have the Right to Roam in a lot of wonderful places that used to be out of bounds to us,” Joan said.

Walking and rambling became a passion.

Over the years with Barnard Castle Ramblers, Joan organised coach trips and mini-breaks across the UK and Ireland.

That progressed to group tours abroad, including a three-week trip to America.

And the couple have travelled the world – climbing Ayer’s Rock (now known as Uluru) in Australia twice, and touring extensively in Latin America getting as far as Tierra del Fuego off the southern tip of Chile.

Other exotic walking holidays took in the slopes of Kilimanjaro, spotting icebergs in Greenland and – perhaps the toughest of the lot – hiking the mountains of Majorca.

Their Barnard Castle home is a treasure trove of souvenirs, with embroidery from Bolivia and photos from Namibia jostling for space with well-thumbed Wainwrights and paintings of High and Low Force.

“After all the places we’ve been, we still love Teesdale,” said Joan.

“It’s such a beautiful place, and it’s right on our doorstep.”

And, RAF years aside, Teesdale is where they’ve stayed.

Ian grew up in a house on Bede Road, just round the corner from their current home.

Jean was born in Lartington.

Both worked at Glaxo for many years.

The couple are no longer able to tackle countryside walks but remain close to many friends from the Ramblers.

So when the twin anniversaries came around, they were delighted to celebrate with a short walk and a buffet meal at the Pathway, in Middleton.

Some ramblers tackled the walk up Hudeshope, others took on longer or shorter routes – and there were still enough hands to help sort out all the donated food!

“It was a really happy afternoon with people catching up with old friends,” Joan said.

“I’d like to thank friends and family for all their help in making this a really special day.

“Special thanks go to Jenny, who helped with a lot of the organising, and Gordon for leading the walk.”

• Over the years, Joan has compiled about 40 scrapbooks with photos and reports from Barnard Castle Ramblers’ trips, as well as cuttings from the Mercury. These are available at the Fitzhugh Library, in Middleton-in-Teesdale.