Nick Hallissey,

Deputy Editor

Miles walked this month: 68 Meet Bob. Bob was one of my teachers at school (it was a time of great change in the education sphere, such that the name of his subject changed from ‘metalwork’ to ‘CDT’ during my time there).

I was – and still am – hopeless at metalwork. But Bob (or Mr Metcalfe, if I’m being respectful) had another interest: hillwalking. And entirely on his own impetus, he organised trips from Cheshire to places like Snowdonia, the Lakes and the Dales. I’ve written before about how those trips inspired me, and hundreds of other kids during Bob’s time at St Nicholas High School in Northwich. But having not seen Bob since 1994, I was lucky enough to meet up with him in Middlewich recently. We talked of the Langdale Pikes, Tryfan and Crib Goch; of abseiling in Anglesey and caving in Dentdale. Of what teachers really talk about, and how annoying a Dire Straits mix tape gets on a 50-mile drive.

Bob lamented that teachers have very little freedom to do that kind of stuff these days – and the alternatives involve external bodies and are often too costly for schools and parents. This made him sad. But it wasn’t a night for sadness. It was a night to say thanks. And a night to consider that, by taking someone walking, you might be making more of an impact on their life than either of you can possibly imagine. Bob did that. A lot. Note to self: Be like Bob. Inspire someone.