Rita’s Ramblings

March 2012

 

Important Message re Evening Meet on 21^st March

 

Unfortunately Rodborough Village Hall has again been double booked.  This time their booking secretary has arranged for us to hold our meeting in Woodchester Village Hall that is in Church Road.  To reach it, follow the A46 from Stroud and turn right for North Woodchester (by the old piano works).  Follow the road up the hill and turn left into Church Road.  You will pass the Royal Oak Inn on your right and the hall is just beyond that.  Parking is limited, but if the car park is full, you should be able to park further along the road, near or in Berryfield Road on the left.

 

Ramblers Holidays are offering ‘partnerships’ with local rambling groups.  The benefit is they will pay £10 for every holiday booked with them to a nominated partner.  In order to meet their requirements for a partnership we need a new website.  In my last newsletter I asked for volunteers to come forward to help Jonathan set up our new website.  Sadly no one has, so he is struggling on alone.  Jonathan is taking early retirement at the end of this month, but until then he is not able to spend a lot of time on it, so it isn’t likely to be up and running until the end of April.  If you can offer any assistance please give Jonathan a ring (evenings) on 01453 765490 or e-mail him at jonfowler50@hotmail.co.uk  

 

Next year will be the club’s 60^th anniversary.  Although it may seem some time yet, it’s surprising how quickly the months fly by, so we need to start thinking about this now.  Your committee would welcome suggestions on how we might celebrate it, so please, pass on any ideas you may have to a member of the committee.

 

Enclosed with this programme are two booking forms.  The first is for our annual outing, this time to Wales.  It sounds an excellent day out and don’t forget you can invite friends and family along.  I know Anne has put a lot of work into organising this, - obtaining prices for a coach, liaising with the venues including arranging a lunch of soup and sandwiches, so I do hope you will support it.

 

Jonathan is leading a weekend on Exmoor in October.  This has always been popular with the club and again he has put a lot into organising the weekend.  As Jim once said ‘These things don’t just happen’!  So, please if you can, show your support by booking the weekend.

 

At Easter, as I am sure you will have noticed, and maybe making plans, Wendy and Andy Robinson are leading walks on the Cotswold Way, this time starting it from Bath on Palm Sunday.    My thanks to you both Wendy and Andy – it is some years since we walked the Cotswold Way from Chipping Campden to Bath.  I know some members are waiting with anticipation.  To help cover the costs of a car shuttle (never an easy thing to organise) a charge of £1 per car will be made, in addition to the mileage charge, if applicable.   

 

They say every cloud has a silver lining!  The current one is of course the exact opposite, i.e. a lack of rain, but at least it has meant we haven’t had so much mud to clean off our boots!  Again we have a full and varied programme – my thanks to all of you who lead walks, cycle rides and last, but by no means least, our intrepid cavers!!

 

Rita Apperly

Chairman

 

P.S.   One of our former members has been in touch to say she has 3 unused day rucksacks for sale, plus a black bag on wheels that is small enough for hand luggage on an aeroplane. If you are

P.T.O.

 

interested, please get in touch with me.

 

 

Stop Press  I have just heard that Dick Hook is in Gloucester hospital having had an emergency

operation.  We wish him a speedy recovery and will be well enough to enjoy celebrating his 90^th birthday in April!  He is an amazing man, having been out on some of our mid week walks until

very recently.