A NEW organisation is being set up to safeguard the future of the legendary Lyke Wake Walk.

The existing club, which masterminds the 40-mile walk from Osmotherley to Ravenscar is set to fold, but a new one is being formed.

The secretary of the new Lyke Wake Walk Club, Gerry Orchard, said it has been dedicated to the memory of the late Bill Cowley who founded the walk and made its first crossing in October 1955.

The new club is taking over the former organisation's functions of recording crossings, holding wakes and liaising with public authorities, he said.

Over the years, the number of people completing the walk has dropped to some 550 a year from a peak of more than 15,000 in the Seventies. The reason, said Mr Orchard, was the increasing number of alternative long distance walks competing for walkers' feet.

The new club will be administer the issuing of badges and certificates for dirgers - male members of the club - and witches - female members

The next annual wake is already arranged for Saturday, May 14, at the Lord Stones Cafe, Carlton Bank and there will be a 50th anniversary wake on Saturday, October 1, at The Golden Lion, Northallerton.

Unique "degrees" are conferred on those completing the walk - three crossings earns the degree of master or mistress of misery, while four or more gives the walker the title of "Doctor of Dolefulness".

Mr Orchard says the club's aim is to reduce moorland erosion by those taking part in the walk, and officially define the walk as a right of way and having it marked on Ordnance Survey maps. The members also want to set up and carry out a programme of path repairs and way-marking.

Mr Orchard appealed for previous members of the Lyke Wake Walk Club to contact him on www.lykewake.org or at 4 Cavendish Grove, Hull Road, York YO10 3ND

An appeal has been made for people to become patrons of the new club.

Paul Sherwood, secretary of the Lyke Wake Company Ltd, and treasurer of the existing Lyke Wake Club, said many hundreds of thousands of pounds were raised for charity through sponsored walks over the route in its heyday.

Mr Sherwood said the existing club would continue to operate until October next year. Further details on the club are available from PO Box 24, Northallerton DL6 3HZ.