SHREWSBURY RAMBLERS. Newsletter March June

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1 SHREWSBURY RAMBLERS Newsletter March June The Ramblers Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales Company registration number: Registered Charity in England and Wales number Registered office: 2 nd Floor, Camelford House, Albert Embankment London SE1 7TW

2 Chair: John Newnham ( ) Vice Chair: Graham Baker ( ) Secretary: Kath Bristow ( ) Treasurer: Mick Gadd ( ) Membership Secretary: Rebecca Barker ( ) Publicity Secretary: Amanda Hartley-Newton ( ) Webmaster: Neville Hubbard ( ) Programme Secretary: Di Higgs ( ) Self-Funded Activities: Peter Greeve ( ) Footpath Secretary: P3 Group: Peter Knight ( ) Committee: Audrey Menhinick ( ) Ramblers Website Addresses: (Shropshire Young Ramblers) Shropshire Young Ramblers Rail Rambles Website: - Leaflets available from Shrewsbury railway station and Tourist Information DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Monday 21 st Friday 25 th May Group Away Week in Barmouth. Saturday 9 th June Ramblers Roadshow at Shrewsbury Town FC Tuesday 19 th June Coach Trip from Penmaenpool to Bramouth. Saturday 18 th August Coach Trip from Borth to Aberystwyth. Family Walks 10.00am 12 noon Sunday 27 th May - Haughmond Hill Sunday 24 th June Jackfield Tile Trail Offers of walks for the July October 2018 programme should be sent to the appropriate co-ordinator by Friday 18 th May

3 GROUP AWAY WEEK 2018 Monday 21 st May Friday 25 th May 2018 Planning is well underway for the next Group Away Week in Barmouth. We hope to have two led walks a day and there are many other activities available locally for people who do not wish to participate in an organised walk every day. We have several walk leaders and if you would like to be involved in planning the week please contact the group Secretary Kath Bristow bristowk@waitrose.com If your time is limited and you can t come for the week, why not come for a day or two and join us on an organised walk Barmouth is not so very far from Shrewsbury! Let us know if this is something you would like to do and we will send you a copy of the programme when it is finalised. Details and booking form available from Peter Greeve or pgreeve@talktalk.net Have you ever thought of being a Walk Leader? WALK LEADERS SOCIAL EVENT - Friday 13 th April 2107 The Trinity Centre, Church Road, Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, SY3 9HF Time This is an event for the Committee to thank our many walk leaders, who give up their time so willingly to do recces and lead walks. We also extend the invitation to any member of Shrewsbury Ramblers, who would like to lead walks in the future. It is a chance for them to talk to experienced leaders, and to arrange mentoring opportunities. There will be soft drinks and a range of desserts as refreshments. Please Di Higgs at shrewburyramblers14@gmail.com if you would like to attend. To follow this John Law is offering another walk leaders workshop later in April or in early May to provide some training. Date to be arranged.

4 COACH TRIP PENMAENPOOL TO BARMOUTH BOOKING FORM Date: Tuesday 19 June 2018 Depart: 8.00am from Cineworld (Old Potts Way)-please leave cars in the parking area behind Beaten Track as per normal Tuesday walks (Optional pick-up at Welshpool Old Railway Station) Return: from Barmouth at 4.30pm Leader: John Law ( ) Cost: The Walk: A linear route of 9.5 miles-moderate. Includes elements of the Mawddach Trail, Cregennan Lakes, Arthog and the Barmouth Estuary Viaduct. The trip is open to non-walkers (subject to availability) who may wish to spend a day in Barmouth. Walkers will also have some free time at the end of the walk. To book your place(s) on the coach please complete the slip below and send it with your cheque to Peter Greeve, 1 High Ridge Way, Shrewsbury, SY3 6DJ Please make cheques payable to: Ramblers Association SS6 PENMAENPOOL TO BARMOUTH Name(s):... Address: Telephone Number:... Number of Seats:...at 10 per seat TOTAL:...

5 SHREWSBURY RAMBLERS AGM 2017 Last year s AGM took place on Wednesday 8 th Meole Brace. November at the Trinity Centre, 46 members were present. Papers for the meeting had been posted on the Group website for a week before the meeting took place, so we were able to save the paper normally used to provide hard copies and project reports on the screen as reminders. Only Mick Gadd (Treasurer) and Peter Knight (P3) presented in detail. The Committee was re-elected unopposed leaving two positions vacant. Peter Carr, Area Chair, took us through some national issues. At the break, against a background of photographs of walks throughout the year, we partook of a Peruvian supper, Secco de Pollo prepared by a small group of members. This set the mood for a thoroughly enjoyable presentation by Alan Evans There s More to Peru than Macchu Pichu great photographs of stunning places with Paddington Bear popping up from time to time. Thank you Alan. The committee said goodbye to two of its members Phil Barnes, who has served as Footpath Secretary for the past couple of years, and Bill Hodges, his predecessor, who continued to serve as an Area representative. Phil will stay on Area Council as Webmaster. Bill is retiring from committee work, having served the Ramblers in several groups as he moved around the country, and at Area level for many years. He is a tireless protector of the footpath network and will be sorely missed. I am sure he will continue to watch over it and call us from time to time if we miss some important detail! Thank you Bill, for all you have done we will think of you particularly when we dip into the Walks Library for a Welsh ramble. We do, however, have two vacancies on the committee as we start 2018 for a Footpath Secretary and a representative for Area Council. We do have the power to co-opt, so if anyone out there is able to offer their services to Shrewsbury Group, the rest of the committee will be very pleased to hear from you. Thank you to everyone for helping to make a success of AGM 2017, particularly Amanda for her technical expertise, Rebecca for organising the food, the team of people who cleared up without being asked, and John for chairing the meeting. Kath Bristow (Secretary) January 2018

6 COACH TRIP BORTH TO ABERYSTWYTH BOOKING FORM Date: Saturday 18 August 2018 Depart: 8.15 am from Abbey Foregate car park (Old Potts Way) (Optional pick-up at Welshpool Old Railway Station) Return: from Aberystwyth at 5 pm Leader: Phil Barnes ( ) Cost: The Walk: A spectacular route along the Coastal path from Borth to Aberystwyth. Mainly following the cliff top with a few ascents and descents. The distance is 6 miles and the grade is moderate. The trip is open to non-walkers (subject to availability) who may wish to spend a day in Aberystwyth. Walkers will also have free time at the end of the walk. To book your place(s) on the coach please complete the slip below and send it with your cheque to Peter Greeve, 1 High Ridge Way, Shrewsbury, SY3 6DJ Please make cheques payable to: Ramblers Association SS6 BORTH TO ABERYSTWYTH Name(s):... Address: Telephone Number:... Number of Seats:...at 10 per seat TOTAL:...

7 Shropshire Way Main Route Success Audrey Menhinick While walking a section of the Shropshire Way from Stiperstones to Bishop s Castle with my family, my grandson proved that the Main Route can be followed using a map downloaded from the website and by looking out for the prominent orange waymarks. Many ramblers will by now have seen these waymarks and the completion of the southern section was celebrated at our AGM held on 12 th December at the Discovery Centre Craven Arms. The website went live early in October There is still work to do on the downloads for each section, accommodation and public transport. We are also looking for champions for each section to report problems, clear overgrowth and maintain the waymarking. If you would like to be involved contact Audrey on or use the contact form on the website. BY ALL THAT S HOLY There are a surprising number of holy wells dotted around the Shropshire countryside. Two of them are featured in the current programme in walks that John Newnham has selected to lead. John is hoping that volunteers will put the supposed healing powers of the waters to the test, but is likely to be indifferent to claims of miracle cures. Perhaps a greater spiritual experience awaits those who opt to join John on a return visit in June to a monastery on the eastern slopes of the Stiperstones. We were last there in July of 2011 and it was found then to be a wholly uplifting occasion. RAMBLERS ROADSHOW 9 th JUNE Shrewsbury Town Football Club The Shropshire Ramblers (including Telford & Wrekin) are hosting a Ramblers Roadshow on the 9th June at the Shrewsbury Football Club. Ed Wilson from Central Office will be co-ordinating the Roadshow. The event is free and will provide members with a great opportunity to increase their knowledge of what the Ramblers is trying to achieve, and to learn or develop new skills and/or knowledge. There will be a host of excellent workshops to choose from and there is a possibility that the Ramblers CEO Vanessa Griffiths will attend. More details will be provided in due course.

8 NEW FACEBOOK PAGE SHREWSBURY RAMBLERS MEMBERS We have responded to some requests and concerns from members about our Shrewsbury Ramblers Facebook page which is open to anyone to view and have now set up a members only page which is a closed group. This means that your posts can only be seen by Shrewsbury Ramblers members who are part of that group. In order to view, post pictures and comments you will need to be given permission by Amanda. Search for Shrewsbury Ramblers Members and then request to join. Please note that you should have permission from people before posting photos of them. SHREWSBURY WALK FINDS FAVOUR IN COVENTRY - John Newnham Congratulations to one of our newer members, Kathy Fitchew, on receiving an award from the Coventry Ramblers for the most enjoyable walk of This was for the walk she led them on in April of last year, taking her former fellow members firstly through the shuts of Shrewsbury and then out along the river bank to Montford Bridge. We can be as satisfied as Kathy in knowing that her route out of town is for the most part detailed in Walk 4 of our 20 Walks guidebook. RAY KNOWLES FOOTPATHS SECRETARY Phil Barnes has now stepped down after several years. This important role involves collecting information on any footpath problems from ramblers and liaising with the council over footpath issues. More details and job description from John Newnham Tel john.newnham@btintenet.com Ray has now moved to Radbrook Nursing Home and would be pleased to receive a visit from walking colleagues. Before making a visit it would be helpful to first give Jennifer a call on FOOTPATH PROBLEMS? As a reminder, ramblers should note any footpath problem with a photo and grid reference if possible and pass these on to the Footpaths Secretary

9 GENERAL INFORMATION 1. MEMBERSHIP - Anyone is welcome on any of the Group walks. Membership of the Ramblers Association is not essential but regular walkers would be expected to join the Association. Membership application forms are available from the Membership Secretary. It is helpful to the Group if all new members would quote SHREWSBURY as the preferred Group on Membership application forms. It should also be quoted when renewing your annual membership as our funding is based on these numbers. 2. RAIL RAMBLES - For details of a 6 monthly programme of short and long distance walks starting and finishing with a rail journey from Shrewsbury station go to Hard copies of the programme may be available at Shrewsbury station or at the TIC in the Music Hall. 3. DOGS - Registered Assistance Dogs Only. 4. DISCOUNTS are available on production of your RA membership card from Cotswold, Pride Hill (see their advert on back page), Millets, Mardol Head and High Sports, 51/52 Wyle Cop. Make use of these establishments and save your membership fee! NOTE: Discounts shown in the Shrewsbury and Mid Shropshire Programme are wholly at the discretion of the retailer and are not an entitlement to RA members. 5. UNDER 30 s WALKING GROUP - Details of walks for this group can be found at : 6. PACE OF WALKS - Members can assist the Leader who has the responsibility of setting the pace to suit all walkers, by not getting ahead of the Leader or by unnecessarily lengthening the tail. Slower walkers should be able to maintain a comfortable pace. 7. REPORTING INCIDENTS Any accident or incident when on a walk should be reported to Kath Bristow ( or bristowk@waitrose.com) and a Ramblers Incident Report Form completed. 8. MINORS - Young people under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult if they wish to join a group walk. CAR SHARING Voluntary contributions Return Mileage Contribution Return Mileage Contribution Footnote Though walking is inherently one of the safest outdoor activities, no activity is completely without risk and we all need to exercise a degree of individual responsibility in order to minimise the potential for accidents.

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