From Bolton to Basel: Cycling the Western Front

Four Rivingtonians embark on a 634-mile journey to honour Bolton First World War fallen and support local charities.

Four former pupils of Rivington and Blackrod High School in Bolton are preparing for a cycling expedition along the Western Front Way, aiming to complete the 1,020 km (634-mile) route in 10 days, starting on 4th June 2025. The route notionally follows what was ‘no man's land’ during the First World War, running from Basel on the Swiss border to Nieuwpoort on the Belgian coast.

The team comprises cyclists Colin Higham, Kevan Ball, and Robert Taylor, who will all be 65 at the time of the event. They will be supported by Russell Jones. A primary motivation for the journey is to honour the memory of 24 former pupils of their school who lost their lives in the First World War; their names are immortalised in a stained-glass window in the school chapel. The cyclists plan to visit the graves or memorials of 16 of these individuals whose resting places are located along the Western Front in France and Belgium.

The ‘Western Front Way Challenge’ is inspired by the concept of a ‘Path of Peace,’ a vision first proposed by Douglas Gillespie, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, a soldier who served (and died) in the trenches during the First World War. (Listen to our podcast with Sir Anthony Seldon who walked and wrote about the Western Front Way.)

The participants, who state they are not regular cyclists, are self-funding the entire expedition. Kevan Ball, an army veteran, says “this challenge is about more than just a cycle ride. It's a journey of remembrance, honouring the memory of local heroes.”

All funds raised through their efforts will be shared between these charities and organisations:

• Royal British Legion
• Children In Need
• St. Ann's Hospice
• local charities and groups.

Support the challenge by donating at the team’s Just Giving page: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/alan-parkinson.