Cassiobury Park Health Walk Team Receives High Sheriff Award

The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire Annie Brewster JP presented Cassiobury Park Health Walk team with a Health Walks Making a Difference High Sheriff Award with a special mention to Josie Morris and Colin Tate. Chairwoman of Watford Council, Dawn Allen-Williamson was in attendance as well and enjoyed congratulating the award recipients and finding out more about the walks.  

The amazing and popular Cassiobury Park Health Walks (Watford's only remaining walks) were lost part-way though the Covid period and they owe their return to Josie Morris, supported by Colin Tate. Josie who trained as a volunteer in 2017 and has clocked up 439 walks during this time, gained phenomenal support for their return from the amazing South Oxhey Team who already support several walks in the area. Colin partnered with Josie and helped with liaising with volunteers to build rotas and planning of routes, all of which meant the walks could return.

Colin has clocked up 15 years of volunteering and a whopping 2032 walks together with providing essential admin support for the Health Walk Team and can also be relied upon to help any walk in need – he was a key ‘go to’ support during the Covid period. 

A special mention also goes to David Lee for his energy and enthusiasm and to the rest of the South Oxhey volunteers who travel to Watford to make the Grade 3-4 walk possible. 

Taster Grade 3-4 walks were launched in June 2022 and attracted large numbers of walkers and by September 2022, thanks to the support of the volunteers, Hertfordshire Health Walks were also able to bring in a lower grade walk and operate them fortnightly. Since May 2023 due to the overwhelming support of volunteers on the lower grade walk, the walk was able to take part weekly and numbers have grown with an average of 15 walkers attending. 

On the day of the visit, between two walks there was a team of twelve. Without these dedication Cassiobury Park volunteers (which includes Josie, David, Steve, Esther, Lionel, Anne Fitzpatrick, Fiona, Maggie, Caroline, Jenny, Julie and Anne Ballard) the two walks would not be possible. 

Since June 2022 to the present day, Cassiobury Park have provided 125 walks for 168 walkers with a combined attendance of 1857 attendances, with the Grade 3-4 walk often seeing numbers over 30, all of which is something to be hugely proud of. 

“Continuing my tour of free, friendly Hertfordshire Health Walks that run all over the county. Lovely to be joined by Chairwoman of Watford Council Dawn Allen-Williamson to see Colin Tate receive a Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership High Sheriff Health Walk Award on behalf of the Cassiobury Park Team of fabulous volunteers. We saw two separate groups of walkers depart to tackle different distances all praising Colin, Josie, David and the South Oxhey volunteers who come to support the walks. Changing lives, physical and mental rehab, community cohesion and a social lifeline for many. Thank you to these wonderful volunteers!”  

The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Annie Brewster JP

Thank you to Herts County Council for their continued support of Hertfordshire Health Walks. If you’d like to get involved with your local Health Walk by taking part or volunteering, you can find all the local Hertfordshire walks here.

For further details of the event and the High Sheriff’s visit, please contact Jane Parker j.parker20@herts.ac.uk.