LUMPS is, in fact, not a society or club but a group of friends now in their 50s and 60s, some of whom, as they gradually retired gracefully from playing football together, started to look for other interests.
It soon became clear that a challenge involving the great outdoors plus a social gathering in a pub was high on everyone's agenda. Alan Heaton became the driving force, having already walked The Pennine Way and the Coast to Coast and in 1986 he was joined by Bob Gornall and Charlie Bamber to walk the West Highland Way.
Then John Douglas joined the group, having proved to be a formidable London and other marathons runner and it was John who came up with the LUMPS name. So the group was officially formed.
More friends soon joined – Brian Livesey, Kenny Brookfield, Craig Slater, Steve Cottam, Steve Hardacre and Geoff Russell – as LUMPS enjoyed trips to the Lake District to tick off the Wainwrights. Tuesday darts and domino nights provided an ideal time for discussion and Scotland was soon on the agenda. On the first weekend to Glencoe no mountains were climbed due to deep snow, certain members were to become hooked on Munro bagging.
Also in Scotland, a main event around the longest day became the Mid Summer Madness which involved walking through the night and the next day, covering between 25 and 35 miles and several Munros, before finishing 20 hours later at a pub of course!
A September week away in Scotland became a regular event. Peter Hope and John Hancock joined as regulars, we visited the Knoydart, often referred to the last wilderness in Britain and a quartet of LUMPS appeared in the national walking magazine 'The Great Outdoors', after an impromptu bout of nude fell walking! Another September visit was to Braemar which included an unscheduled audience with Her Majesty at Balmoral!
There was not much beer the night we completed the famous Black Cullin Ridge on the Isle of Skye when John, Charlie and Alan shivered huddled in one double bivi bag two thirds of the way along the ridge before safely returning the next day after an epic traverse. Cycling trips to Scotland became a regular feature with Paul Coupe and Barry Collinson becoming regular candidates.
For the annual action-packed February weekend we visited Wales, Yorkshire and other areas, at one time joined by John Daniel from Derbyshire but Preston-born. He enjoyed the experience so much he formed a branch in his adoptive county: the DUMPS!
More adventures included Mont Blanc. For the third trip in 2002, seven of us sat on the roof of Europe in brilliant sunshine, and in 2003 six members spent five days exploring the Dolomites.,
Over the years we've had several family camps, most notably in the Lakes and Switzerland. There, in 1998, Bob Gornall and John Douglas scaled 'The Monch' and the following year an 18-strong family contingent enjoyed a fortnight's camping holiday at the same venue.
'Xmas eccentricity' has been another regular feature. It all started when someone suggested recreating Christmas dinner on top of Parlick. It was such a success that it became a challenge to think of something different each year and subsequent activities included a darts tournament on Longridge Fell and a game of cricket (in full whites) on Parlick.
One of our most memorable activities was the 1999/2000 millennium night at the Civic Hall.
Another family event is the annual 10 miles 10 pubs walk in the Lakes, with other walking scores achieved being three 50 miles 50 pubs walks, a 90 miles 45 pubs challenge in the Lake District, two 20 miles 20 pubs walks in London - all attracting the next generation.
However, the biggest event LUMPS is known for is the Longridge 20 miles 20 pubs walk, now in its 16th year.
In 1993 Alan joined up with his fellow long distance walkers in Preston to walk what was then 20 miles 20 Boddington pubs around Preston, Walton-le-Dale and Higher Walton. Thought a good idea, he devised the first LUMPS walk in 1994, a circular route enjoyed by just 18 around Ribchester, Chipping and pubs in Longridge.
Charlie Bamber organised the second more adventurous 25-mile route as a 40th birthday celebration by crossing the river at Alston, and it was at the third event the decision was made to walk for charity.
The third walk in 1996 raised £600 for Hillside School when 42 walked the route devised by Bob, starting at Gisburn and involving the transporting of participants by bus to the start for the first time.
The following year 49 people raised £639 for Blackburn Diabetic Society; 1998 saw 70 walkers/drinkers raise £1,000 for Alpha. Between 1999 and 2005 the number of people taking part rose to over 150, raising money for Cystic Fibrosis, the Pat Walker Appeal, First Responders, Bowland Mountain Rescue, 'Ollie and Jade' Leukaemia and Epilepsy, and St Catherine's Hospice.
The most raised in any one event reached over £6,000, and the only time we did not fundraise was 2001 because of foot and mouth. We did walk though – an ingenious route avoiding farmland from Fleetwood to Lytham, via Blackpool's Golden Mile, an absolute classic!
In 2006, the 200 entry mark was reached and £8,200 for the Ollie and Jade appeal was raised on a route starting at Wheelton. In 2007, 243 started from Fence, raising £9,275 for Chorley Breast Cancer and in 2008, 266 raised £9,133 for the Urology Trust.
And so to the 2009 20/20 when we allowed 388 to register and 349 started the walk from Worston, supporting Anna May Griffin and the Bone Cancer Research Trust.
We feared a logistical nightmare but on the day the event went like clockwork due to the now experienced core of Alan, Bob, Geoff, John, Ian, Steve C and Kenny, assisted by other LUMPS members.
But most importantly we raised over £12,000, a phenomenal achievement taking our fundraising to over £60,000.
Thanks to everyone for all their efforts over the years and here's to the 2010 event. Watch this space!