“I’ve always wanted to run the full length of Hadrian’s Wall”, announced W.Bro. Eddie Brook at the May Festive Board. “Why?” “Because it’s there”, replied Eddie. “Well we might be able to help”. “How?” We’ll use your run to raise funds for our centenary year charities, as well as for Festival 2029.

And that’s how it began.

At the June Lodge meeting, it was agreed that Eddie would run the full length of Hadrian’s Wall to raise £5,000 for our 2025 centenary charities, Hull 4 Heroes and the Welton Waters Adventure Centre, as well as raising money for Festival 2029. After consulting with Eddie, it was decided that starting on 26th September 2024 at Bowness-on-Solway on the west coast, Eddie would run the entire length of Hadrian’s Wall in three days, finishing at Wallsend, Newcastle-upon-Tyne on the east coast. 

Then the planning began.

As Eddie needed a support team, the Worshipful Master, James Billaney, as well as W.Bros. Paul Bull and Ian Sugarman and Bro. Bob Thirsk all volunteered their services. Eddie then identified the stops, the staging points and the daily distance he would run. Paul arranged the nearest locations to the staging points to enable water and nutrients to be available. Ian arranged the 3 night accommodation for the non-campers and Bob organised the printing of the sponsored T-shirts, which he then donated to Eddie and the support team. (image above: L-R: James, Eddie, Ian and Paul).

Then the run began.

Bob couldn’t join us due to his daughter being hospitalised, but Eddie’s friend, Mark “Dougie” Douglas, joined the team. Although Dougie wasn’t a Mason at the beginning, I think that we did enough to convince him by the end.

On the first night (25th), we stayed at Port Carlise. At 10.00am on 26th September, Eddie started his run at the beginning of Hadrian’s Wall in the village of Bowness-on-Solway. The support team caught up with him at Burgh-by-Sands and Crosby-on-Eden and Eddie finished his first day at Banks East Turret. He’d run 30 miles in just over 5 hours.

On the second night, we stayed at Haltwhistle. At 10.00am on 27th September, Eddie started his run at Banks East Turret. The support team briefly met up with him at Cawfield Quarry and Chollerford and Eddie finished his second day at the Errington Coffee House. This being the most difficult and challenging of terrain, Eddie ran the 30 miles in just under 6 hours.

On the third night, we stayed at Haydon Bridge. At 9.00am on 28th September, Eddie started the final leg of his run from the Errington Coffee House car park. The support team eventually left the Errington Coffee House (it was a cold morning) and caught up with him briefly at Heddon-on-the-Wall and Newburn. Eddie finished his run at the Segedunum Roman Fort at Wallsend which was the official finishing point of Hadrian’s Wall. He’d run just under 27 miles in 4½ hours.

Eddie ran a total of 86.6 miles over the three days, taking 15 hours and 33 minutes to achieve the distance. Simply put, he ran three marathons in three days. Wow!

We have set a fundraising target of £5,000 and desperately need your support. Please help us to help others by donating whatever you can at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LodgeofStAndrew