Woman, 99, midway in 100-mile charity walk

Phyll Babb has reached the midpoint of her challenge ahead of schedule

A woman who is celebrating her 100th year by walking 100 miles for a homeless charity has reached her 50th walk.

Phyll Babb, 99, from Salisbury in Wiltshire, has walked one mile twice a week to raise funds for Salisbury Trust for the Homeless (STFH).

Salisbury MP John Glen, who joined her on one of the walks, said he was "impressed" with her "speed and indefatigability".

Ms Babb, who is ahead of her plan to complete the challenge by the time she turns 100 next July, said she has been having a "wonderful time" enjoying the company of old and new friends.

Ms Babb walked has walked in all weather conditions

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Babb said she's completing the route in about half an hour.

"Two miles an hour isn't too bad," she said. "Most of my walks have been in dry warm weather but I have done four in the rain and had a laugh getting the drips from the men’s huge umbrellas.

"The worst was with Edward Probert, a trustee of STFH and the Chancellor of the Cathedral, as I had already got soaking wet walking back from my doctor's off the Wilton Road.  

"I am having a wonderful time getting lots of exercise and enjoying the company of old and new friends."

'Stories to tell'

Ms Babb, who was once the chairman of STFH, said she decided to take on the challenge to help the charity she's been a part of for 20 years.

"I wasn’t really doing anything at all for the trust in the last few years, I just thought I was too old," she said. "I can’t see very well, but I decided suddenly why on earth can’t I do something?"

"I thought about Captain Tom who walked 100 paces around his house, I thought why can’t I walk round the coast 100 times?

"And then it occurred to me that it sounded a rather good jingle – a hundred times around the coast in my 100th year!”

Salisbury MP John Glen said it was a "privilege to reconnect with Phyll"

John Glen, MP for Salisbury, said it was a "privilege to reconnect with Phyll".

"I was glad to have an umbrella to ward off the rain and I was impressed with both Phyll’s speed and indefatigability.”

Councillor Sven Hocking, the Mayor of Salisbury, said it was "an absolute delight" to accompany her on a walk.

"From what I saw, she will do this at a canter," he said.

"If anybody would like to walk with her I know she would be very grateful of the company, and she has some stories to tell."

Mr Hocking said it was "an absolute delight" to accompany her on a walk

Gordon Pardy, head of fundraising for STFH, said: "We don’t want Phyll to be walking alone, although she is perfectly capable of managing the circuit without any help.

"But it is more fun for her if she has someone to chat to as she makes her way round.”