A Slice of Heritage Walks

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We are commencing a new Series of Heritage Walks next Thursday August 2nd @ 930AM commemorating the legacy of John Thomson who died@ Cardowan his Opawa home on July 23rd 1933.John gave Thomson Reserve & Sugarloaf Reserve an area of 335 acres on our Port Hills to the City in perpetuity.A stone memorial seat sits today above The Summit Road and is one of Christchurchs Hidden Gems. John Thomson a lover of our Hills as I am too estimated that he had walked a distance of 15,600 miles on the Port Hills and when one expresses astonishmentMr Thomson tries to belittle his achievement by remarking that it only meant 25 miles a week.So it did but it is not every man or woman between 70-80 years young who can claim such a record. He accomplished it by Once a week every Tuesday,I used to go to Kennedys Bush,on every Thursday to Mt.Pleasant,and once a month to Coopers Knobs.Once a year I stayed the night at Kennedys Bush,breakfasting the next morning at Coopers Knobs and then on to the lighthouse at Godley Head The walking stick that accompanied him was donated to The Canterbury Museum.THE SUMMIT Road Society recognised John James Thomson and I have a copy of that Thank you signed by ALL members of that Society in 1931. Johns Cardowan Home has been the subject of many of my walks during fourteen years I have been designing researching and leading them in Christchurch. In later years Two sisters lived their lives in Cardowan and were well known teachers @Opawas schools. They invited me to walk around its historic garden.Next Thursday @930am will be my 2009th walk and as well as Cardowan we are visiting where Harry Ell another Port Hills pioneer lived for a time with his daughter just before he died in Opawa Road. We shall also be appreciating York Streets FRUDD Cottage, Risingholme in Chomondley Avenue and The Scott & Ensor families. Ensors Road was named after the Ensors who lived in Creek Cottage. We will appreciate Opawa one of our lovely suburbs during our 45 minute Amble. CARPE DIEM.

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