Celebrating iconic Anne Lister.
Back in 2019, before the world turned upside down, the BBC aired a TV show called Gentleman Jack, a dramatization of an amazing entrepreneur, landowner, scholar, traveller, lesbian diarist – Anne Lister, who lived in Halifax in the 1800s at her ancestral home, Shibden Hall.
Thanks to the incredible writing of local television writer, producer and director Sally Wainwright (OBE) thousands of people around the world were introduced and captivated by Anne and her story.
During lockdown 2020 a group of women inspired by Anne wanted to emulate her epic trek up Mount Vignemale, however due to the restrictions of lockdown this was not possible – so they went ‘virtual’. Living hundreds of miles apart, members of the Walker Wednesday Group have over 90 members across 20 different countries and through their shared admiration of Anne Lister, have continued to walk and share stories, and become a real place of support and friendship, all inspired by these amazing women who lived 200 years ago.
Sunday 3rd April 2022 marks the 231st birthday of Anne Lister, with the Anne Lister Birthday Week festival coming to Halifax from 1st to 10th April. The Walkers have organised a celebratory walk, up the ‘Old Bank’ to Shibden, the route Anne would have taken when she was coming into Halifax. Then taking in the Walker Pit and onto Beacon Hill, many of the Walkers will be coming from overseas and the walk is the groups chance to get together for the very first time.
In celebration and thanks for the Halifax community, for hosting the Anne Lister Birthday Week celebrations, the Walkers have chosen to fundraise and support our NHS Charity at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, raising funds for our wonderful Cancer Unit at Calderdale Royal Hospital, upon request by the family of Helena Whitbread, who has been so instrumental in bringing Anne Lister to the world.
Emma Kovaleski, Charity Manager, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Charity said “We’re really proud to have the Walker Wednesday Group supporting our NHS Charity as part of the Anne Lister Birthday Festival this year. Anne is an iconic local figure, and we are very much looking forward to celebrating her remarkable story, and supporting the walk which takes place on Wednesday 6th April 2022.”
For more information about the Anne Lister Birthday Festival visit: www.visitcalderdale.com/anne-lister-birthday-festival-2022/
For more information about the Walk, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/WalkerWednesdayUpTheOldBank or contact our team at chftfundraising@cht.nhs.uk
#albw2022
#AnneListerFestival2022
#CalderdaleCelebratesAnne
