Derbyshire's High Sheriff and police commissioner join forces for Peak Pilgrimage

Two of Derbyshire’s leading figures joined forces for a holy pilgrimage to Eyam.
Derbyshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa, right, and the county's High Sheriff Tony Walker, second left, on the holy pilgrimage to Eyam.Derbyshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa, right, and the county's High Sheriff Tony Walker, second left, on the holy pilgrimage to Eyam.
Derbyshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa, right, and the county's High Sheriff Tony Walker, second left, on the holy pilgrimage to Eyam.

Hardyal Dhindsa, the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner, and the serving High Sheriff Tony Walker took in the spectacular sights of the national park on the Peak Pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage covers 35 miles from Ilam to the plague village of Eyam and is completed over four days.

The Commissioner, who was accompanied by his wife Parmjit, started his journey on the Chatsworth Estate and Edensor Village, meeting the Bishop of Derby, the Rt Rev Libby Lane, and the High Sheriff. They continued through Baslow village, up to Baslow Edge and then onto Curbar Edge to admire the stunning landscape before returning via Grindleford and Stoney Middleton to a service at Eyam Church.

Eyam has long been regarded as a holy place and attracts up to 100,000 visitors a year. Its history centres on the heroism of the Eyam people who isolated themselves in the 1665 plague and halted the spread of the deadly disease, although their actions cost many of their own lives.

High Sheriff Tony Walker is completing the pilgrimage alongside colleagues and members of the community and aims to raise awareness of the work of his chosen charity, the ACE Youth Trust.

Hardyal said: "It was an honour to join the High Sheriff and appreciate this beautiful part of the world in all its glory.

"It seemed especially poignant to be remembering the sacrifice of the Eyam people when we ourselves are living amidst our own pandemic, with much uncertainty and anxiety. I would like to thank the High Sheriff for inviting me to join part of this special journey."

The ACE Youth Trust reaches out to disadvantaged and vulnerable local young people in the Ashbourne area and makes a significant impact on their lives by providing targeted youth work services in and out of school delivered by qualified youth workers and trained volunteers.

Services that the trust provides include mentoring and a support club for 16-19 year olds who are not in education, employment or training and small grants to young people who a re struggling to pay for travel to/from college or job interviews, school meals, educational materials and other essential items.