Thomas (Tom) Criddle Stephenson Tom Stephenson, 1893-1987, born in Chorley was a British journalist and a leading champion of national parks, long distance paths and walkers' rights in the countryside. If you ask people who had a vision on Pendle Hill, most would not know, of those who give an answer it is almost always George Fox, the Quaker. Tom Stephenson had a dream on Pendle that arguably effected more people for the good than did the one Fox had (see appendix A). They had another thing in common as well as visions inspired by the view from the summit of Pendle, an aversion to war and the taking of life in its pursuit. If you also ask people who came up with the idea of the Pennine Way, of those who can give an answer most will say A.W. or Wainwright referring to A.W. Wainwright author of The Pennine Way Companion. (1) Tom not only fought for the introduction of the Pennine Way and the establishment of long distances paths, he also wrote the first guide to the Pennine Way
Tom started work at 13 at a calico printing works. He then moved with his parents to Whalley in the Ribble Valley. Tom said, “On the first Saturday after starting work I climbed Pendle Hill and from the summit, 1,831 feet above sea level, I beheld a new world. Across the valley were the Bowland Fells; and away to the north Ingleborough, Pen-y-ghent and other Pennine heights, all snow covered stood out sharp and clear in the frosty air. That vision started me rambling, and in the next sixty years took me time and again up and down the Pennines and further afield.� It is thought that this was the inspiration behind having a national long distance trail, in 1935 he had an article in the Labour Party supporting paper, The Daily Herald, calling for a Pennine Way.(2)