Chichester septuagenarians trek 80 miles in north Scotland to raise funds for Help for Heroes

Anna Hutchings, 73, from Chichester, was joined by her friend Linda Smith, 76, also from Chichester, on a 79-mile walk from Cape Wrath to Lochinvar and has, so far, raised nearly £2,000.
By David BowersContributor
Published 27th Jun 2023, 11:51 GMT
Updated 27th Jun 2023, 11:52 GMT
Anna Hutchings, right, and Linda Smith pause for breath on their walkAnna Hutchings, right, and Linda Smith pause for breath on their walk
Anna Hutchings, right, and Linda Smith pause for breath on their walk

This sum will be split between the two charities, with the bulk – 75 per cent – heading to Help for Heroes.

Anna’s motivation came from her father, Arthur Randall (1910-2003), who fought with the Royal Engineers in Malaysia during World War II and was imprisoned by the Japanese in Changi Prison, Singapore, for three-and-a-half years.

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She explained: “His nightmare started with the British Army’s surrender to the Japanese in February 1942, and endured until the end of the war, in August 1945. Miraculously – and thankfully – he survived, but a healthy athlete and soldier at the start of the war, he returned home so malnourished, weighing only seven-and-a-half stones, that it caused permanent eyesight damage leading to blindness in later life.

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Anaa Hutchings, left, and Linda Smith stopped occasionally for a bit of sightseeingAnaa Hutchings, left, and Linda Smith stopped occasionally for a bit of sightseeing
Anaa Hutchings, left, and Linda Smith stopped occasionally for a bit of sightseeing

“My dad suffered from the trauma of war all his life. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was not recognised in 1945. So, my personal president’s challenge, in memory of my dad, was to complete a seven-day 70-mile sponsored walk, in the far north of Scotland, to raise funds for Help for Heroes, which does such a wonderful job supporting veterans like my dad.”

She continued: “We not only walked 79 miles, but we conquered the coast and some Munros [mountains in Scotland over 3,000 feet high] ascending more than 13,000 feet across the seven days.

“The route starts in the most northern part of the UK mainland. It’s said to be one of the wildest, but most beautiful routes, and is also described as one of the toughest. The w