A Dorset community group has sent two representatives to join the Ramble to Brussels, marking the tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum. Dorset for Europe, which has nearly 2,000 subscribers to its monthly newsletter spread across the county, wanted to play a major role in the venture, which aimed to take a book full of messages of support collected on their website to the EU Parliament, showing that a majority in the UK want to rejoin the EU.

Peter Corr, the Ramble team leader, began his training walks ready for the 225 mile hike on April 7th, responding to invitations from local groups all around the UK to meet up, from Perth in Scotland right down to Cornwall. Peter said he was amazed at the warm welcome everywhere they went and the level of interest shown in their activity.

Dorset for Europe organised its own walk in Purbeck on Sunday May 10th, to raise funds for vice-chair Conor Niall O’Luby to join the Ramble.

On Saturday May 23rd, Peter’s group set out from Parliament Square in London. The next day, Conor boarded a train for Rochester in Kent where, on Monday 24th he met with Peter and presented Dorset for Europe’s message for Brussels. It read:

Conor walked with the group from Rochester to Faversham on Monday, from Faversham to Canterbury on Tuesday and from Canterbury to Dover on Wednesday, over the hottest days the UK has ever seen in May.

Peter’s group then crossed the Channel to Calais, from where another eight day’s of walking will take them to Brussels for Friday, June 5th. Waiting for them at the EU Parliament will be Dorset for Europe Chair, Phil Lucas.