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THE winter solstice was welcomed with great celebration at Stonehenge with large crowds and with traditional rituals and dancing and with television cameras.

In Caversham Heights, the celebrations were more discreet and restrained, although just as warmly welcomed, as the local dog walkers met to celebrate the solstice and the lengthening of the days to come.

They were relieved that, for the next six months, each day will dawn just a little earlier than the one that preceded it. They are happy to know that soon they and their canine companions will no longer have to leave home in the black pall of the dark to go for their morning walk.

This year, there was another fine turn-out of local dogs with their walkers in tow. There was Bailey, Barney, Bella, Buffy, Digby, Ella, Griff, Horace, Jasper, Jengo, Lina, Molly, Pebbles, Poppy and Scruffy. Sadly, there was no Beau, a lovable lurcher, who had died of natural causes some months beforehand.

Flasks of warm mulled wine and of hot coffee soon appeared to fill paper cups. Mince pies, Scotch eggs and sausage rolls were lifted from dainty picnic boxes and shared among the walkers. The eager dogs were served special morning treats.

But each person who gathered in the winter dark that morning was silently conscious that the dogs’ favourite treat giver was missing. Brian Evans, a dog lover and a long-term resident of Caversham Heights, had died three weeks earlier. But Margaret, Brian’s wife, was there with Scruffy by her side to keep her company.

None of those involved can be quite sure about when the dog walkers’ group was first formed — it just happened gradually. It survived covid and has now become something of a local institution. It is a great source of local news and views and it is a fountain of information about the best craftspeople and tradespeople.

Primarily, it is a friendship group of local dogs and that friendship has rubbed off on their owners as well. So, maybe the old adage is true, that people become like the dogs they care for.

Ian Lowry