In 1987 we attracted about 300 participants and the pasting table was replaced by more substantial 'furniture', courtesy of the Mersey Ferries Catering Department. Over the years that followed we became more professional in our approach and, with ever increasing patronage, operational changes had to be made. The Wirral Coastal Walk was moved from Autumn to late Spring each year; the Leasowe Check Point was abandoned because of congestion in the vicinity and difficulty in getting supplies to the site. The promenade at the junction with Harrison Drive became the site of the first Check Point for a while, before finally being moved to the present location, on the embankment in the vicinity of the recently built 'hostelry' known as 'The Derby Pool'. Here vehicular access is good and there is an ample supply of fresh water. With the ever increasing quantities of water required for diluting concentrated fruit juice, provision of fresh water to the check points became a bit of a 'headache'. For signing off the walkers at Thurstaston, no longer could a small tent suffice for protection from the elements so a small Marquee had to be hired and erected. Again, because of increasing numbers and of facilities required at the finish, the "small" marquee became a "big one."
Perhaps the booking and registration procedures have been modified more than anything else during the past 29 years. Pre-booking and provision of official, consecutively numbered, sponsor forms were introduced, with requests for forms made to a member of the Coastal Walk Committee by telephone who recorded and delivered all literature to the prospective walker or organisation's group leader by post. Later three members of committee had to share this task until it was realised that professional help was required to handle the hundreds of enquiries being received during the three months prior to the date of the Walk. 'Serve Wirral Training', an organisation based in Wallasey, where young people were trained in various skills, such as information and computer technology, agreed to handle the ever increasing workload, previously attended to 'in house'.
Since 2003, Bebington CVS (now VCA Wirral) have provided us with administrative support. For the 2013 walk, they sent out 4403 sponsorship forms. There is now an ever increasing number of sponsorship/registration forms being downloaded via the Wirral Coastal Walk web-site. In addition to reimbursing VCA Wirral for the costs they incur doing this, the club make a donation each year to VCA for their invaluable help.
The single registration position had to be supplemented until we now have to provide up to 10 tables for registration purposes, staffed by 20 members, wives and friends, over a two and a half hour period. This, in addition to an Enquiry Desk and Information Section. To minimise congestion at Seacombe, registration start times run from 8:30 to 11.00 am, with an attempt to get the younger walkers and the less able bodied off to an early start, leaving the more experienced until later. Unfortunately some of the 'fast' walkers, especially runners, sneaked off early and in consequence arrived at Thurstaston before we had anyone available to sign them off. This has now been remedied.
