Ex-mayor completes walk for new rugby clubhouse

Alan Dunn has not played the sport since his school days but says his family is "steeped in rugby"

A former town mayor has raised almost £6,000 for a new rugby clubhouse after walking between all 20 of Cumbria's rugby union clubs.

Alan Dunn said although his planned route was 259 miles (417km), he ended up covering just over 400 miles (644km) over 29 days.

Keswick Rugby Trust said the £2m project aimed to construct a new, flood free clubhouse with "outstanding facilities for the community," after the previous was no longer fit for purpose.

Mr Dunn said despite not playing rugby since his school days in Kendal, he was keen to help because his family was "steeped in rugby".

He said his wife Heather has been the first aider for Keswick Rugby Club for more than 20 years.

"My three sons all played rugby; John was the captain for four years. My daughter Katy has coached the under-16 girls, and my 15-year-old granddaughter, she plays for Keswick Rugby Team. The family's steeped in rugby."

'Outgrown' building

The Keswick Rugby Trust said the clubhouse, built in 1958, was designed to cater for one senior men’s team, but there are now 16 teams catering for players aged between three and 60.

"It has now come to a point where the 180-plus senior men and women players, together with the 200-plus junior boys and girls, have outgrown the building, and desperately need a new, suitably-designed facility," it added.

Mr Dunn said his walk took longer as he tried to avoid the wet weather

At each location he visited, Mr Dunn met a club representative and shook their hand to formally record he had reached the site.

He told BBC Radio Cumbria he walked further than originally planned between the clubs, because of difficulty following the exact route on his phone without draining its battery, and he had to back-track at one point to avoid a herd of cows.

His walk also took longer than expected as he chose his days carefully.

"I just wanted to walk in fine weather," he said.

"I don't walk on rainy days, because I like to see things."