Boot Women - 'a walking cocktail party'
1994
Boot Women was started in 1993, set up by Val, Catherine’s ex-partner – and
they weren’t speaking at the time, but a year later they were OK and
Catherine’s been leading walks ever since. “At first we knew all the
women, it was described as a ‘walking cocktail party’, with 4-5 hours
chin-wag. It was very popular, with around 40 women, and half a dozen
dogs. Then foot and mouth made it hard to find anywhere, and it nearly
folded. For the first 10 years 6-8 women were organising it all the
time. Everyone did a little bit – not too much for any individual; Val
did the paperwork. We had a list of names and addresses. At one stage
Bill Gavan and The Nightingale wanted the list for advertising; even
now we don’t give the list out”.
Contributed by: Catherine M, 47