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Chairman’s Chat
A new Chair When Sue asked me to write a piece for the spring newsletter on becoming a Rambler,
I never thought I would now be writing as the newly elected Chairperson.
My first duty is to thank those who have retired from post over the last year. Sadly we lost secretary Frank to the Lakes in the
spring but we were able to depend at short notice on Julie Hayward. Justin McCarthy and Mary Ormerod resigned at the recent AGM after many years
service to the group. To all of the aforementioned, I extend my thanks for your contribution which has always been highly valued.
The committee has some new faces but still a strong representation of ‘well-matured’ former members. We newcomers will need your help and
I already know this can be relied upon.
The AGM gave us the opportunity to hear from HQ in the form of Audrey Watson, who specialises on LED walks.
This presentation led me to having a good look at the RA website where I have found all sorts of information, guidance and help.
If you have access to this, I strongly recommend a visit and if at all possible, please register your e-mail address with the RA. As many of you know, our Group is under pressure to not only reduce our financial balances but also our costs. Although some members enjoy receipt of mailings from the group, an alternative electronic communication will not only reduce our costs but also improve our green credentials and carbon footprint. All aspirations as Ramblers we should try to achieve.
At the moment, I am still trying to gather my breath and understand
all those things that the Chairperson is required to do. Fundamentally,
I see my role as one of encouragement. We need to find or train new
leaders. Identify new initiatives to encourage more to join and stay
with us. Develop themes for walking. Next year is the 75th anniversary
of the Ramblers and we will play our part. I look forward to meeting you
or hearing from you as another year opens.
Philip Guest
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Footpath Secretary’s Report
The footpath maintenance group continue to meet monthly during the week
to explore a circular walk on the footpaths of a chosen parish.
Whilst doing so, they hack back the vegetation, fit footpath markers and
report back to Cheshire East who so far have responded to our request to
clear some serious problems.
The walks have begun to appear in the programme: Julie’s pub walk around
Bunbury and the recent figure of eight round Audlem of four or eight
miles, which started with twenty ramblers, many of them new to the
group.
Another of the maintenance group walks was the Alpraham walk in
November.
Graham Taylor
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Rambles Secretary's
Report - November 2009
We have had good attendances at walks all year with an average turnout
of 14.
As usual we started the year well with an average for January of 29
February and March were both 14 on average, dropping to 13 in April and
12 in May. June was the lowest month with 10 then increased to 12 in
July. August was up to 18 on average and October down to 12.
A new idea to suit all was a figure of eight walk at Audlem. There were
20 started out on the 8 mile walk and after the first 4 miles half
dropped out, with 10 doing the full 8 miles. We hope to repeat this idea
in the next programme.
David Smith
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The Annual General Meeting
The AGM on 15th October 2009 took place once again at Nantwich Museum.
Nearly thirty members attended to hear reports for the past year from
Paul Stone (who kindly stepped into the breach to chair one more AGM),
and Jenny Edwards, aided by Peter Callery (also helping out). Thanks
were made to retiring committee members Justin McCarthy and Mary Ormerod
for their hard work and commitment over so many years. Frank Jones was
also thanked for his secretary role and unique walks. It is encouraging
for the group as a whole that changes within the committee have resulted
in new faces putting themselves forward and a new ‘team’, headed by Phil
Guest, was elected during the evening.
Refreshments were available before an interesting and informative talk
by Audrey Watson of the Led Walks Team (see article below), who had come
from North Wales to join us. She is becoming a familiar face to the
group, having spent the day with the participants of the walk leaders
training day last November. She stressed the importance of led walks as
the first point of contact that potential members have with the group
and how first impressions count. She also mentioned the health and
safety aspect and directed walk leaders to various resources at their
disposal on the Ramblers’ website.
Sue Sharpe
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Led Walks Team
The creation of a team dedicated to the development of the Led Walks
programme was a recommendation of an independent review of the Led Walks
programme conducted in 2006.
The review recommended that the profile of the Led Walks Programme
should be raised, better support should be offered to those involved in
Led Walks and the profile of risk management should be raised.
Funded initially by the Ramblers Holiday Charitable Trust, the team’s
role is to work GB wide to:
• Support and advise groups on the Led Walks Programme
• Support and advise existing Walks Leaders and encourage new walks
leaders
• Develop a modular training package for walks leaders
• Support Walks Programme Co-ordinators
• Encourage groups to put on a variety of walks
• Ensure safety and quality in the Led walks programme
• Communicate the work on Led Walks both internally and externally, by
sharing best practice, case studies, issues of interest to groups
The team is Audrey Watson who has over 20 years experience in
countryside recreation management with local and national government and
charities, and Karen Inkster, who has a background in Outdoor Education
and is a qualified expedition leader. Audrey is based in Wales and Karen
in Scotland.
Work is focussing on:
• Gathering names of walk leaders and co-ordinators to enable direct
contact with them on issues of interest, such as the first Led Walks
newsletter in July 09
• Production of a revamped Walks Leader checklist with an additional
“incident management and first aid” section included, in response to
feedback and requests from some groups
• Developing a new voluntary training package with two Outdoor education
centres with initial focus on remote and challenging walks, as this is
where the Board of Trustees feel there is greatest potential risk of a
serious incident or accident.
• Clarifying the insurance cover for Ramblers groups, including
simplifying the incident report forms and encouraging groups to
undertake recces (stressing that these are not compulsory but are seen
as good practice)
• Dealing with a range of queries from members and non members, on
issues such as dogs on walks, children on walks, Walks Finder queries
and directing them to the all new volunteer section on the website,
where a lot of useful resources and information is available.
• Getting out and about on walks, to AGMs and meetings with groups
The main aims of the Led Walk team are to make the 28000 annual Ramblers
walks safe, enjoyable and communicated.
They can be contacted on 020 7339 8519 or ledwalks@ramblers.org.uk
Audrey Watson
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Walking Weekends 2010
David Vernon has booked the same venue as last May, Plas Tan - y- Bwlch
in Snowdonia, for Friday 30th April to Monday 3rd May 2010.
If there is sufficient demand, there is the possibility of a weekend in
Eskdale in the Lake District in the autumn.
Stanley Ghyll is set in a lovely location (especially at that time of
year). The adjacent narrow gauge railway station (the ‘lal Ratty’ to
some of you) is ideal for short linear walks but the serious hills are
only up the valley.
Only bed and breakfast is offered but there is the possibility of a chef
being brought in and there are a number of pubs that do food locally.
You can also take your own booze. The cost would be £35-40 per person
per night.
More details about the proposed venue are at:
www.stanleyghyll-eskdale.co.uk
Sue Sharpe
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Walks Past and Future
Blencathra
(Omitted in error from last newsletter – sorry Frank!)
After various factors had sabotaged my previous efforts to lead intrepid
ramblers up Blencathra via Sharp Edge, success was finally gained at the
end of April 2008. Seven of us were counted out and seven were counted
back in and, fortunately, it was the same seven who had started.
Blencathra is steep and can be climbed with just a bit of stamina but we
were going up by the exciting route, a narrow ridge with some distinctly
scrambly bits where hands as well as feet are needed to proceed.
According to Wainwright, you forget all other worries including
toothache at the sight of Sharp Edge and he claims that it is ‘sharp
enough for shaving’ (a slight exaggeration).
There were some tricky bits but all felt a sense of achievement at doing
one of the great Lakes walks. A second highlight, having done the ridge,
was Sue producing her birthday cake as we had lunch on top. What a way
to celebrate a birthday! (I’ll never forget it! SS). So we all sang
Happy Birthday on the top of Blencathra. We then finished with a
well-deserved drink in the White Horse at the base before heading home.
Frank Jones
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Helvellyn Heroes
Thanks to Ray Sellars for stepping in at late notice to lead the
Helvellyn walk on 19th September 2009 following Frank’s indisposition.
This ascent of the Lake District’s third highest peak (3118 feet) is not
for the faint hearted, especially up the chosen route via Striding Edge.
Five men, including Ray, of course, set out from Glenridding at 10.30 am
in brilliant sunshine. Over to Ray…
Carole Bentley
After about a mile of easy walking, we began the rather steep climb
up to Birkhouse Moor. As we gained height it became misty and we had one
or two rather unpleasant showers. In conversation with a keen walker on
his way down, he gestured vaguely into the far distance in the clouds
towards our next target, the ‘hole in the wall’, and we learned that it
was still a long way off. We eventually reached the ‘hole in the wall’
and had photos taken in the rain. It wasn’t a difficult decision, having
come this far, to continue along the next gradual climb to the start of
Striding Edge – everyone was up for it!
By the time we reached Striding Edge, the rain had stopped and most of
the mist had cleared, so we had a very good view of the steep drop on
either side, with Nethermost Cove to the south and Red Tarn to the
north. Crossing the edge was an exhilarating experience, especially for
those with a good head for heights. The only really tricky part is the
bad step, a rocky ledge of about 15 feet, which we were able to scramble
down to regain the path.
The final section was a steep, badly eroded path but after about 20
minutes we reached Helvellyn summit. Here we had rather a late lunch but
the mist and cloud had returned to spoil any decent views of distant
lakes and mountains.
We began our descent down a very steep and rocky section but there were
good hand holds and we soon reached Swirral Edge on the return route.
The weather rapidly improved and we enjoyed a leisurely walk on a good
path, though rough in places, in a beautiful sunny landscape back to the
start.
We had been walking for seven hours and by this time we were very tired.
However, everyone agreed that it was one of the best walks they had
undertaken. We then retired to the Travellers’ Rest pub to talk about
our experiences and to enjoy a well-earned pint.
Ray Sellars
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South Cheshire Rambler’s walk to Crich Stand on 2nd August 2009
(This was an article for the Grist Magazine published quarterly by “Friends
of Heage Windmill”)
On a lovely summer Sunday 16 walkers from South Cheshire used the Windmill as a
base for a 10 mile walk to Crich stand.
We met Pat Hunter just before 10 00am and after some early shopping to buy flour
etc (not for use on the walk!) went across the Dumbles and dropped into Sawmills
down the 45 steps, a sharp left after crossing the Amber and railway led to a
gentle climb to Fritchley.
We paused for a welcome coffee break on the green admiring a very well kept
village before commencing a more serious climb to Crich Common. A brief view of
the Wesleyan Chapel reputed to be the oldest in England was followed by a muddy
tramp through farm buildings to the churchyard and eventually Crich Stand where
we had lunch.
The views from here are amazing with the top of the windmill and our cars
glinting in the distance.
With no time to lose we briefly looked at the remains of Stephenson’s tramway
before an exhilarating walk along Crich Tors with good views of the Derwent
valley to the right. Descending to Bullbridge on a steep overgrown path we
viewed the derelict remains of Stevensons Dyers, a sad reminder of the
industrial history of the area.
The walk from Ridgeway over the fields to Nether Heage was particularly
nostalgic for Paul who lived in Bentfield Road in the 50s/60s. The short climb
up Dungely Hill took us back to the Windmill for a very welcome cup of tea with
cakes and ice cream.
Thanks to Pat and everyone on the day who made us so welcome, I will put an
article in our newsletter next May on the magnificent attraction of seeing a
mill in full sail.
Paul Stone
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Siddington - Sunday 3rd January 2010
A leisurely walk of 8 miles. We plan to commence the walk from the viewing
point at the south end of Redesmere but will it be a day for ice creams or
seeing the birds on iced water? Whatever, sun or frost, we can expect a figure
of eight in pretty and gentle Cheshire countryside.
Philip Lund
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Boulsworth Hill - Sunday 23 May 2010
Boulsworth Hill in Lancashire, where we shall be in May 2010, is one of what
are known as Pendle’s Three Peaks. The others are Pendle Hill and Weets Hill.
Some of us climbed Pendle Hill on a summer’s day three years ago and the weather
was so appalling it is still recalled with horror. I hope our trip up Boulsworth
Hill will be memorable for better reasons.
The walk starts from Wycoller Country Park on the Lancashire/Yorkshire border
and at the western end of Bronte country. The ruined Wycoller Hall is believed
to have been the inspiration for Fearndean Manor in Jane Eyre. The village of
Wycoller is traffic-free and has some beautiful preserved buildings and ancient
bridges over the beck. One of the bridges, Clam Bridge, is thought to be more
than a thousand years old and is listed as an Ancient Monument.
Our route follows the stream out of the village and heads up through Turnhole
Clough to join the Pendle Way and Bronte Way out onto open moorland. It drops
down briefly to Spoutley Lumb Farm before beginning the ascent. First come the
slopes of Pot Brinks Moor, then the gritstone outcrops of Little Chair Stones
and Weather Stones before making for Boulsworth summit (517 metres) which is
also known as Lad Law. Weather permitting there should be some great views from
here.
The descent brings views of Upper and Lower Caldwell Reservoirs before rejoining
the Pendle Way and taking a short detour to see the waterfall known as Lumb
Spout. Fields and farm tracks will take us past Hollin Hall Mill and back to
Wycoller.
Carole Bentley
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The Annual Barbecue
Elizabeth and Graham Taylor were the kind hosts of the July 2009
barbecue in their lovely Nantwich garden. Nobody was really expecting
sun by that stage of the summer and, sure enough, it rained. Only light
drizzle, however, and the gazebos, good food, wine and wonderful company
allowed us all to forget the rain and enjoy a great evening. Thanks
again, Elizabeth and Graham.
The 2010 barbecue is being hosted by our new chairperson, Phil Guest, at
his Warmingham home on Saturday 5th June from 7pm. I for one am keen to
see how he managed to transform a piece of field into a Warmingham
village ‘garden to visit’ and I am sure we are all looking forward to
meeting the hens (and who knows what by then?).
As always, we take our own barbecue food plus either a salad or a sweet.
Sue Sharpe
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