Last updated 18 March 2026
You can find a list of these and other contacts here.
Chair
Madeleine Watson
Member of the West Yorkshire Group and an active member of the LDWA for many years. Has had several roles on the NEC in the past including Challenge Events Coordinator and, more recently, General Secretary.
General Secretary
Helen Strong
Helen has been an active member of the LDWA for ten years and is a dedicated member of the Kent Group, having served on the Kent Committee as Secretary and continuing to contribute as a committee member. She is a passionate volunteer on challenge events and has completed many of them herself, including four 100s. A keen trail walker across the UK, Helen has completed several National Trails and many other long-distance paths.
Treasurer
Elaine Oddie
Elaine lives in Essex beside the Thames Estuary. She joined the LDWA in 2007 after enjoying a Challenge Event, and she now assists with registration and checkpointing on Essex & Herts Challenges. Elaine is a Chartered Accountant; she was Treasurer of Essex & Herts Group for 7 years before taking up the role of LDWA Treasurer in March 2024.
Volunteer Support Officer
Penny Southern
Penny is a keen long distance walker and wild swimmer. She has been a member of the LDWA for 15 years and a committee member of the Kent LDWA Local Group for the last 2 years.
100s Coordinator
Anne Wade
An LDWA member since 1993 and participant in countless Challenge Events. 1st 100 was Dartmoor 1994. Speyside 2024 was 20th! Route Organiser for EBB100. A Coventry Way Challenge Event Organiser. Active member of Heart of England Local Group, volunteering on Challenge Events and leading Social Walks. Background in Biology and Outdoor Education.
Communications and Publicity
Julian White
Julian is the communications officer, a role he previously held, and he was also the chair of Norfolk & Suffolk group and an advocate of walking on flat terrain. And pubs.
Local Groups Officer and Challenge Events
Graham Sherwood
Graham joined the LDWA in 2018 and has been happily plodding across the country ever since. Challenge events and social walks have taken him all over the UK, though he’s most often roaming North Wales or the Pennines with Merseystride or The Irregulars. He’s Secretary of Merseystride and part of the Open to Offas team, proving that enthusiasm is a dangerous gateway to volunteering. Since retiring from Higher Education, he’s been making the most of the extra time to explore new places and boost his fitness.
IT and Internet Officer
Richard May
Based in Norfolk, and until recently a trustee of the Ramblers, so longer walks are a new challenge. Joined the LDWA in 2020 after helping with marshalling on challenge walks, and enjoying the friendly welcome. Richard runs an IT support business by day, so he is keen to apply his IT skills to the needs of the LDWA to build and launch a new website.
Long Distance Paths
Paul Nellist
Paul has been a member of the LDWA for 25 years, based in Northumbria. Enjoys all aspects of the LDWA: social walks, challenge walks - but has always held a passion for Long Distance Paths.
