In 1954, Tony and Eleanor Simpson and their young daughter Judith took a holiday in Goring on Thames.  They liked the place, and wanting to move out of the London area to somewhere more rural, they decided to buy a house there.

I have visited Goring many times since Judith and I got together in 1984, and each time I’m struck that my in-laws chose well.

Goring is about halfway along the Ridgeway, and marks a clear break between the western half on the Berkshire Downs, and the eastern half across the Chilterns.  The Goring Gap is the generic term for this divide, where the Thames makes its way between the two sets of hills, on its way south from Oxford.  The Ridgeway goes through Streatley on the old Berkshire side of the river, comes over the bridge, into the village centre at Goring, and then along the river for a few miles before climbing into the Chilterns.

Goring is a fine place.  It’s a big village, with village identity, but plenty going on: 3 pubs, 2 cafes, a range of shops, and quite a lot going on in terms of cultural life.  There’s the river and the nearby hills to enjoy.  The train connects easily to Oxford or London.  The traffic ought to be awful in a place with narrow streets, but somehow isn’t.

We’re benefiting from the facilities staying here on the walk: buying a postcard at the stationers, overnight stay at the John Barleycorn but dinner at the Catherine Wheel because the other pub kitchen is closed, and shopping for lunch at the deli tomorrow morning.  Goring will welcome lots of Ridgeway walkers.  For us, it’s particularly special to do this in a place that Judith called home for so long and where I feel at home now. 

Tony and Eleanor lived here for 50 years, becoming pillars of the local History Society and other community activities.  They died within a few months of each other 15 years ago.  I’ve got more reason than anyone to be grateful to them – including the place they chose to settle.