THE great and the good of Salisbury have been joining intrepid Phyll babb as the 99-year-old continues her bid to walk 100 miles as she prepares to celebrate her 100th birthday.

Phyll, a stalwart charity campaigner, previously announced her plan to complete 100 one-mile walks from her city home, around Cathedral Close, and back to raise money for the Salisbury Trust for the Homeless (SFTH).

City MP John Glen, Mayor of Salisbury Councillor Sven Hocking, former Mayor John Walsh, and the Reverend Canon Edward Probert, Chancellor of Salisbury Cathedral, are among those who have joined her so far on her walks.

Phyll is walking using a rollator aid, of the type made famous by Captain Sir Tom Moore during his charity walks during the Covid panedmic.

And the adventurous 99-year-old is currently ahead of schedule to complete the 100 walks by the time of her 100th birthday – on July 13, 2025 – completing the circuit more quickly now than she was at the start of her effort.

Conservative MP Mr Glen said: “It was a privilege to reconnect with Phyll and be one of the many people accompanying her on her walks in support of a marvellous Salisbury cause, one which she has been associated with for so many years of her long life dedicated to serving the community she loves.

“I was glad to have an umbrella to ward off the rain and I was impressed with both Phyll’s speed and indefatigability.”

Salisbury MP John Glen during a walk with Phyll

Cllr Hocking said: “It was an absolute delight to meet Phyll and accompany her on one of her walks around the Cathedral to raise money for the Salisbury Trust for the Homeless.

“Phyll’s mission is to complete her 100th walk before her 100th birthday in July next year and from what I saw today, she will do this at a canter.

“If anybody would like to walk with her I know she would be very grateful of the company, and she has some stories to tell. I wish her every success.”

Gordon Pardy, head of fundraising for STFH, added: “We don’t want Phyll to be walking alone, although she is perfectly capable of managing the circuit without any help.

Mayor of Salisbury, Cllr Sven Hocking, joined Phyll at the cathedral

“But it is more fun for her if she has someone to chat to as she makes her way round.”

Anyone who wishes to join Phyll on a walk should contact STFH chair Maureen Pardy by email to mpardy@hotmail.co.uk.

The fundraising campaign has already struck a chord with the public, with one taxi driver insisting on donating his fare of £7.50 on hearing about it from a passenger, who is a friend of Phyll’s.

Born in Bideford, north Devon, Phyll went to Exeter University before working as a teacher.

In 1949, she adventurously travelled by sea alone to Jamaica where she taught in a girl’s grammar school for three years.

After a brief spell in England, she took off again to Vancouver in western Canada before returning to the UK to look after her disabled mother.

In 1986 she retired and the following year moved to Salisbury, where she became involved in a range of voluntary work – the Probation Service, Victim Support and U3A (University of the Third Age), for which she undertook senior roles at national level.

She first became involved with STFH in 1998 and was chair from 2004 to 2009.

The Reverend Canon Edward Probert in the rain with Phyll