Before the Remembrance month of November passes, why not take the opportunity to join our last What’s On group walk of the year?

Commemorating Kent’s role in the First World War, our seasoned expert Geoff Rambler has led a whole series of walks throughout 2014, sharing his knowledge on the pivotal part the county played in the conflict.

The walks have also been a great chance for readers to get outdoors and join with a friendly, like-minded group for some gentle exercise.

Newcomers are not too late to make the most of our last ramble, this time around Sheerness, Sheppey, on Saturday, November 29.

Geoff says: “This is the last of my First World War-themed walks and the opportunity will be taken to draw together some themes and stories.

'The north coast of Sheppey was highly defended, with a trench system similar to the Western Front, pillboxes and a mass of barbed wire'

“The Isle of Sheppey was strategically very significant, what with the docks and the Eastchurch airfield. As a consequence the island was ‘locked down’, with access theoretically only allowed to people carrying a Defence of the Realm Permit Book.

“So much barbed wire was used to control access to the island and to dissuade invasion, it became known as the ‘Barbed Wire Island’.

“This walk could not have been undertaken during the First World War. The north coast of Sheppey was highly defended, with a trench system similar to the Western Front, pillboxes and a mass of barbed wire.”

Geoff continues: “Apart from the need to protect military installations, had the enemy taken control of the island they would have had control over access to the rivers Medway and Thames.

“The island, with its dock, would also have provided a valuable asset for staging an invasion of north Kent and possibly Essex.”

THIS WEEKEND’S WALK SHEERNESS

Saturday, November 29, departing at 10am. Meet at the front of Sheerness railway station, which has several public car parks nearby. Allow three to four hours for this six-mile circular walk on the Barbed Wire Isle.

Geoff says walkers can expect “good surfaces, a few steps and a railway bridge to be crossed”.

He adds: “We will follow the coast from Sheerness to Barton’s Point and then the Military Canal to West Minster and onto Queenborough. We will return to Sheerness via Blue Town. “On this walk we will consider the defence systems that were put in place on the Island, maritime losses, problems associated with soldiers returning from war, and a connection between the island and the modern SAS.”

Ramble by name...

Geoff Rambler’s real name is Geoff Ettridge, but as an accomplished walking leader of more than 10 years, the nickname stuck.

Though What’s On’s 2014 series of walks on the First World War theme is over, Geoff is willing and able to lead the walks again for organised groups such as schools or clubs in return for an agreed donation to the Royal British Legion

For details visit www.geofframbler.co.uk