A Canon from Wakefield Cathedral celebrated his long life with an 80th birthday walk round Bolton Abbey for 115 friends.
Not many could boast four Canons on one walk round a beauty spot founded by Canons – but the birthday friends of the Revd Canon Michael Storey, a canon at Wakefield Cathedral, included Canon Bernard Dagnall, Canon in the Anglican Diocese of Hoo, Ghana: who now lives in Oxford; Canon Bill Jones, Canon of Musoma Cathedral, Mara, Tanzania who worships at Christ The King, Battyeford, Diocese of Leeds and Canon Gordon Dey, Canon of Bradford Cathedral, who is known for his work on the Jesus-Shaped People project.
Remarkably two of the Canons, Michael and Bernard were born next door to each other in Nab Lane in Battyeford – pictured are Michael and Bernard at the Craven Heifer, Skipton, October 2016 and Michael and Bernard, Nab Lane, Easter 1950.
Before they set off on their four mile walk to mark Michael's 80th birthday, Michael made a short speech about Bolton Priory which appropriately was founded by Augustinian Canons in 1120.
The walk was followed by a meal in a local pub and Michael asked for any gifts to be donations to the "Friends of the Three Peaks" an organisation set up under the Yorkshire Dales National Park.Its purpose is to keep in good condition the 26 miles of paths which link Pen y Ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside, as Michael and many of his friends have contributed to their wear and tear over the years – Michael has walked round these 26 times, up Pen y Ghent 75 times. Donations currently stand at £1,100!