REBEL WITH A CAUSE

Sam Jones follows in the footsteps of Boudicca and takes on Norfolk's Rebellion Way

- Sam Jones

Looking from Kett's Heights over the city of Norwich, with its twin cathedrals and castle dominating the cityscape, I paused to think, what's in a name? Shakespeare famously had starstruck lover Juliet thinking about roses and Montagues at the time when she posed that same question. Had she been a keen cyclist, standing where I was and about to embark on the Rebellion Way, her thoughts might have veered from flora to bike packing. And she would be right to scratch her head and wonder how a route winding through the flat lands, royal palaces and broads of Norfolk deserved the epithet "Rebellion Way".

The Norfolk of today doesn't scream rebellion, but its past is home to some of the more rambunctious characters of British history and it is from them it takes its name. Most people have heard of Boudicca, queen of the Celtic Iceni tribe, who, when wronged by the Roman occupiers of Britain, rampaged her way towards London from Norfolk, demolishing legions, towns and cities until she was finally defeated and executed. Fewer have heard of Robert Kett, a 16th century noble who sided with the people against the then royal policy that oversaw extensive enclosure of common lands. He led a force to the Heights I stood on and captured Norwich, only to be defeated and meet a similar grizzly end to Boudicca. Fortunately, my rebellion, like that of the many others who take to two or three wheels over four to explore the UK, is only a small act and one not destined to a bloody finale at the hands of the authorities!