Saturday, 18 May 2013 saw the Yomp For Steve*. A group of Steve Sharpe's friends have gotten together and for the past 2 years, they've walked from one of his favourite places at Titchfield Haven to Shore Leave Haslar, a walk of about 8 miles along the Hampshire coastline.
The assembled throng, included friends from Gosport with whom he grew up, ex field gunners, fellow Commandos, a lab tech, an RAF air traffic controller, an ex naval Medical Assistant and assorted spouses and dogs. And last but not least, his lifelong friend Brian (or Bj).
We chat, some bring their dogs, we amble, some stop for a beer, some stop for a New Forest ice cream (I recommend the rhubarb crumble and custard one) and others stop for a cuppa. We each chip in £10 and all the proceeds go to Shore Leave Haslar. This year we raised £280. They in their turn provide us with a simple but tasty barbecue, drinks and cake in the wonderful gardens they've recovered.
Last year Steve's mum and dad were there to see us off, but earlier this year Steve's mum died suddenly and his dad needed his time to grieve and to get over her death and so didn't attend.There was one person missing and I hope she can join us next year after all that she has gone through, and continues to do so.
You, too, should join us next year.
*Yomp has two meanings in the Royal Navy it can (and used to mean) to eat, but once the Royal Marines landed on the Falkland Islands in 1982, it's other meaning took precedence and entered popular culture. It means to walk across country, usually burdened with a small house, no sleep, and a pair of underpants that passeth all understanding.
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