My first pilgrimage in 1982, was originally intended to be the only one, just to say that I had made a medieval pilgrimage.

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I walked with two friends from Northampton Medieval Society, also known as, The Knights of the Rose.

We set out from Winchester for Canterbury. After two days, I was the only pilgrim left. I arrived at Canterbury on my own.

The following year, I decided to make another pilgrimage, from Salisbury to Wells. This time all three of us finished the journey.

 

 In 1988, as I was crossing the hot plains of Spain, I decided to form the Confraternity of Medieval Pilgrims.

To become a member you had to have made one of our pilgrimages. Over my years of walking, there have been three pilgrims in total, but for some years there were four. I also made many solo pilgrimages.

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Most people who walked once never repeated the experience. It is hard work, but well worth the effort.

 In the early days, re-enactment had not been heard of. We had to make all of our own equipment and clothing as best we could; nothing was very authentic! As the years went by, my kit improved.

 

 It would have been much easier to make a pilgrimage in medieval times as there was always a monastery to provide food and somwhere to sleep.

 

Today I usually sleep outside, although on my first journey to Santiago de Compostela, there were monasteries and seminary buildings to sleep in.