Walking Waterloo to Waterloo for Scotty's
Worshipful Company of Feltmakers of London - Master's Charity Challenge 2026
The Worshipful Company of Feltmakers is a City Livery Company given its Charter in 1604, and representing the hatting and millinery trades. All Livery Companies exist to support their trade, preserve the history and heritage of these ancient Companies, and have a strong charitable and philanthropic purpose.
The Master for 2025/26 is Simon Millar.
The Challenge - 1st to 9th May
walking from Waterloo in Belgium to Waterloo in London,
unsupported.
It is customary for the Master Feltmaker to undertake some kind of charitable initiative in his or her year. This might be a fundraising dinner, a sporting event or sometimes, more
ambitious challenges.
Why a long walk?
Approaching his 60th birthday, Simon realised that he wasn't a runner any more (if indeed he had ever been), had never been a cyclist or a swimmer either, but was reasonably adept at walking. One final challenge was therefore definitely doable!
No back up team or vehicle - just a rucksack, a passport, and some pidgeon French (and English).
Master's chosen Charity - Scotty's
Scotty's, formerly known as Scotty's Little Soldiers, is a bereavement charity supporting children of the British Armed Forces.
Simon has been a Trustee of Scotty's for the past eight years.
Walking Waterloo to Waterloo for Scotty's
The Route
Setting off from the Butte de Lion in Waterloo, Belgium, on Saturday 2nd May, the intention is to arrive in Greenwich by the evening of Friday 8th May, where a Charity Dinner will be held at the Trafalgar Tavern on the Thames. The next day, on Saturday 9th May, everyone is invited to walk the final eight miles along the Thames Path, finishing on the Victory Steps at Waterloo Station, followed by some celebratory hydration!
Itinerary
Fri 1st May - Huntingdon to Waterloo (Belgium) by train
Sat 2nd May - Waterloo to Ninove (22 miles)
Sun 3rd May - Ninove to Deinze (26 miles)
Mon 4th May - Deinze to Diksmuide (30 miles)
Tues 5th May - Diksmuide to Dunkirk (23 miles)
Wed 6th May - Dunkirk to Canterbury, via ferry (16 miles)
Thurs 7th May - Canterbury to Rochester (27 miles)
Fri 8th May - Rochester to Greenwich (25 miles)
Sat 9th May - Greenwich to Waterloo (8 miles)
How you can help
1) Donate whatever you feel is appropriate to my Just Giving page
https://www.justgiving.com/page/waterloo-2-waterloo
All funds raised across the year will be administered by the Feltmakers Charitable Trust, and all donations will go to Scotty's without any deductions for adminstrative expenses.
2) Take a table, or just a couple of spaces, at the Charity Dinner being held in the fabulous Nelson Room of the Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich on Friday 8th May. Tickets are £115 each, with beers, wines and non-alchololic drinks available to purchase from the bar.
3) Sponsor the walk in its entirety, or just the Charity Dinner. Plenty of opportunities for branding on the night through social media promotion, banners, table gifts, brochure insertions etc. I'm sure we can work something out that achieves all our objectives with a generous professional audience!
4) Come for a walk! Whether a part of a leg in Belgium, France or England, or just the Thames Path from Greenwich to Waterloo, I'd very much enjoy your company.
To book a space(s) or a table of ten at the Charity Dinner, to discuss sponsorship options, or if you would like to join in the walk, contact Simon on master2025@feltmakers.co.uk
Thank you
I'm really grateful for your anticipated support for this slightly foodhardy charitable endeavour. The magnifcent people at Scotty's do the most inspirational things, and your support for their work means a huge amount.
It will make the dodgy knees and blistered feet all worth while.
See you in Waterloo, or Greenwich, or anywhere in between!
To find out more about what Scotty's does, click below
Charity for Bereaved Military Children | Scotty's Little Soldiers
