JOHN Ingram who died in 1996 is one of the best known names in local walking circles.

Following his retirement he invariably walked 2,000 miles each year and did much to ensure that local footpaths were kept open. Each walk, mainly in Essex, was meticulously recorded in a series of 16 diaries.

These diaries form the basis of most of the walks which Dianne Ingram, John's daughter and a member of the Brentwood Group of the Ramblers Association, leads.

Dianne, an interior designer living in Theydon Bois, has inherited her father's free spirit on a rather grander scale.

She worked her way to New Zealand in the 60s, stopping off to earn money in Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and Australia and eventually returning home via Russia and the Trans Siberian Railway.

Since then she has spent four years in South Africa. Now she says: ''With the restrictions of being a businesswoman I go on shorter adventures to places like Cuba, Estonia, Costa Rica, Turkey and, more recently, Borneo and Vietnam. Three of us flew into Ho Chi Minh City, arriving on the 25th anniversary of reunification and were immediately immersed in a major street party.''

Future travel horizons will be extended following her purchase of a share in a yacht moored in the South of France. She also hopes to visit Namibia and possibly Goa during the next year.

This month's walk will leave Upshire over Temple Hill near to where Queen Boadicea was reputed to have fought a couple of battles and make for Bumbles Green via Claverhambury.

Lunch will be taken at the King Harold's Head pub. The return trip will use part of the Three Forests Way to bring the party back in time for cream teas at Upshire Church.

The walk details

Date: Sunday, December 2, 2001.

Start time: 10am.

Starting place: Upshire Village Hall (park at end of car park).

Map reference: Explorer 174: 414 011.

Lunch stop: King Harold's Head, Bumbles Green.

Distance: 11 miles.

Pace: Medium.

Readers wishing to obtain a free programme of the West Essex Group's walks should ring 020 8524 2737.

You can find out more about other groups on 020 8530 3166 for Redbridge, 01279 430058 for Stort Valley and 01277 220781 for Brentwood .