Stella Boaden 1927-2014 

Stella was always adventurous and a member of the York Mountaineering Club and often went off to The Lakes and further afield climbing and skiing, sometimes with her trusty campervan.  After one particular holiday a few people met up at Bill Cowley’s farm at Potto and decided to walk across the top of the North York Moors from west to east – The Lyke Wake Walk was born.  She was a member of The Ramblers Association long before we set up the York Local Group, remembering the 1948 Countryside Act which led to the creation of the National Parks.  Being a long standing Rambler she used to walk with the York Hoboes, Rowntree’s Moor & Fell and other groups of friends.  Latterly she walked with one of the U3A groups, often leading walks for them.  Although rarely walking with the York Group she spent many hours checking local footpaths and was Chair of our footpath committee for many years.  She was delighted when the CROW Act came about, as she had followed the campaign for Open Access for many years.  She had been suffering from glaucoma for some time and her sight continued to deteriorate until she longer felt able to continue with our footpath work, but still remained a Ramblers member. She instilled a love of the countryside in her nieces and one of them, Helen Boaden, was recently elected President of HF Holidays. (David Nunns)