It was a little piece of paradise for those who wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of town life before millions were spent on its revamp.
It remains a part of Lynn to be proud of, but... danger lurks, readers have told me.
Paddie O'Brien, by her own admission is a grumpy old woman – not that old, actually; she's two years younger than me and I'm just a spring chicken!
She has the following to say about The Walks:
"Yes they are now absolutely beautiful, (almost litter-free thanks to both paid and unpaid souls who collect up the detritus left by the careless and ignorant) and thus make one feel glad to be alive in these wonderful surroundings.
"But the inconsiderate cyclists! Now please don't jump down my throat. Of course I am not having a go at all cyclists – just the inconsiderate ones.
"We can admire the lovely scenery in this gorgeous Autumn weather – except we cannot, because constantly, while walking along, we have to look left, right, back, forward and up and down in case one is coming. They do not seem to have bells, and some do not seem to deem it necessary to beware of pedestrians either.
"Please, please, please can we have some proper cycle paths marked on The Walks again? Or even better, pedestrian-only areas? All my fellow regular dog walkers (many elderly) feel the same: We need a place to be safe.
"Most days I go through the area at least twice and sometimes four times a day. I have been spat upon, sworn at and all because I have the cheek to walk in the way of what some perceive as "their patch" ie the Tarmac paths.
"I am a keen cyclist myself and this morning, when I saw a gaggle of elderly people, I got off my bike and walked around them. It isn't difficult to use basic manners.
"Earlier today I walked behind the playground with my small dog when a child of about ten cycled past me so fast he almost knocked me flying. I told him that, if not me, then someone was going to have a go at him if he cycled in that stupid manner.
"The teenaged girl with him retorted 'But you are allowed to bike on the f*****g path!'
"And this is the main problem. Whereas we may have manners it seems others need rules. Yes, I know that the path rules aren't always respected, but why let these inconsiderate people think that they are in the right?
"Something really needs doing before an old lady or young child gets killed. I have seen many close shaves recently, especially to the rear of the children's play area. The great majority of people who complain about this won't contact you, but I will because I am rapidly becoming a "Grumpy Old Woman".
Well said, Paddie. I approve of those who cycle, as I approve of those who walk. But there has to be room for both. We all know the real villains of transport are car drivers, don't we?
It has been mentioned to me by others that confusion exists about which side cyclists should be using on paths in The Walks because, in places, the painted signs and lines of division on the ground have worn away. And that while pedestrians can see what's coming in front they have't got eyes in the backs of their heads to see what's approaching, sometimes at great speed, from behind.
Common courtesy, politeness and a willingness to acknowledge others, some of whom may not be as sharp on their pins as once they were, would overcome this conflict. Sadly, we may be a long time waiting for that to happen.
Another correspondent writes that she finds the new surfaces in The Wallks ultra-slippery.
Jayne Mott comments:
"The recently-laid surface is positively lethal on a wet day, especially with the now-falling leaves because it is so smooth and has no grip to it. With frosty weather just around the corner we could be looking at some nasty accidents."
Well, I know for a fact that the council, as a matter of urgency every Tuesday, make it first priority to read this column and take their instructions for the week from it.
So I have no doubt that necessary investigations will begin immediately and these little niggles will be ironed out poste haste.
Stop that laughing at the back!
Tony Aldridge, of Flitcham, was kind enough to write to me following a recent moan (so unlike me!) that I had about packaging and the dynamite you sometimes need to get through it.
Clever Tony said:
"If he (Purfleet) were 'near-the-end-aged' (sometime it feels as if I am, Tony, what with my dodgy hip, knee, ankle) he would have applied lateral thinking. This process, as the name implies, is done lying on the side... and preferably in bed.
"The art of getting large pills out of the bubble pack is not to push the bubble down with the thumb, but to put the thumb on the bulge of the pill and pull the pack upwards with a rapid motion.
"Regarding the oil capsule (supplied as lubrication for a chainsaw), if he had suspected a problem, a spell in the refrigerator – for the capsule, not him – would have reduced the pressure in the capsule and increased the viscosity of the oil. This would have reduced the volume and the trajectory of the discharge (now, that idea I like).
"Regarding the battle of the stores (BHS v M&S), that's called healthy competition. Enjoy both activities.
"Regarding the shrink-wrapped drill, he was unlucky.
"As he grows older he may build up a store of ideas to overcome these challenges – by lateral thinking"
I tried the pill-release method, Tony. It worked better to an extent, but I still managed to destroy the capsule (for previously mentioned dodgy hip, knee, ankle, general disintegration and decrepitude).
Thanks for the advice, though; off for a long lie down right this minute.
purfleet@lynnnews.co.uk