NEWSLETTER

JUNE 2008

 

Important dates for your diary

AGM Saturday 1st November 2008
German Holiday 15th - 22nd June 2008
Clarendon Way 29 June 2008
Recruitment day 8th August 2008
French Holiday 2nd - 10th Sept 2008
Welsh Holiday 27 - 31st October 2008
Group Xmas Lunch 11th December 2008
Group Dinner 13th December 2008
Mince pie Walks 18th December 2008
Winter Festival of Walks 26 Dec 2008 - 4th Jan 2009

Dates for committee meetings 2008.

Monday 7th July 2008

Monday 13th October 2008

Monday 17th November 2008

Please contact the Group Secretary at least 2 weeks before a meeting if there is a subject you would like to raise with the committee.

The deadline for material for the next newsletter is

**** 20/09/08****

The Ramblers Council came to Winchester in early April and the delegates seem to have enjoyed their visit to our city. Many thanks to all the volunteers from our Group who helped with the various tasks that make such an organisation run smoothly.

Especial thanks to PF for her tremendous skill in organising all the administration for Hampshire Ramblers.

We should be particularly pleased that one of our members (HM) was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Ramblers during General Council. (More of that further on in the Newsletter) Congratulations him!

At the time of writing (end of May) several walking holidays of our Group have already taken place since Easter and there are three more to come: Germany-June, France-September, Wales-October. We are very grateful to all those of you who take on the responsibility of organising such trips, advising on transport, negotiating with hotels and hostels and listening patiently to members‘ particular wishes. Many thanks for all your hard work on behalf of the holiday-walkers and to the benefit of the whole Group.

Enjoy the summer and-if you can-support the Evening Walks Programme which can only happen at this time of year. You might just see a beautiful sunset.

Philip Owens.

GENERAL COUNCIL 2008--WINCHESTER

The much heralded Ramblers General Council was successfully held at Winchester University over the weekend of 4-6 April 2008. The Conference and Exhibition Stands were in the Stripe Building, with meals and evening entertainment taking place in the new Students Building. For those who have not visited this venue, it provided superb facilities for the 250 Delegates and Guests who attended the weekend.

Firstly a big ‘thank you’ to all of the Volunteers who worked throughout that weekend to ensure the smooth running of the event. Too numerous to mention here, they provided valuable assistance with driving, reception and manning static displays, roving microphones, scrutinizing, tellers, timekeeping, and leading walks.

All of us who attended were extremely impressed with the businesslike manner in which Kate Ashbrook ran the proceedings. It provided a fascinating insight into the breadth of subjects that the Ramblers are engaged in on our behalf. We were also fortunate to hear the new Chief Executive, Tom Franklin, outlining the Strategic Plan for the RA over the next five years, using the slogan ‘Fresh air, firm ground’. More of this can be found on the Ramblers Web site if you are interested.

It was gratifying to be told by a number of people that it was undoubtedly one of the best General Councils, both in terms of the facilities and the organisation, the only bleak spot was the weather on the Sunday morning, when AM led 20 intrepid delegates out into the blizzard that descended on Winchester at 7 a.m.

The Evening Entertainment on the Saturday was a barn dance where members of the Hampshire 20’s and 30’s Group proved they could dance as well as us ‘Oldies’!

We can also proudly state that Hampshire is now well represented with 2 of the 12 Members of the Board of Trustees elected from the Area. OP (South East Hants Group) being elected for the second time, and HM (Winchester Group) being newly elected.

Thank you again to all of you who provided such valuable assistance.

PF

RAMBLERS’ ASSOCIATION TRUSTEE

HM, 53, a lifetime member of the Ramblers’ Association and locally active in the Winchester group, became a trustee at the 2008 Ramblers’ Association General Council. He is someone who cares passionately about the benefits of walking and the need to expand the opportunities to enjoy walking to as many as possible, by improving access in every sense of the word. The health agenda is close to his heart especially after 25 years of being married to a GP. He himself is as happy walking along the canal towpath, walking with the local Ramblers or scaling mountain peaks in Britain and abroad. His last major expedition was Aconcagua, Argentina, the highest mountain outside the Himalayas.

He spent 25 years in the corporate IT and marketing environment, mostly with IBM, working on major change management projects and managing large staff groups across the UK and Europe. He now applies this experience to teaching subjects including business studies, navigation for walkers, surveying, graphics, gardening and garden design at 16+ and at degree level. He is also a walk leader with HF holidays.

He is active in the charities sector in fundraising, support and as a Director. He is currently a Director of School and until September 2007 was a Director of the YHA of England and Wales, here being a key member of 4 core committees – Performance and Audit, Change Project, London Development and Marketing Advisory.

He has BA, MSc, MBA and PhD degrees and will be adding an FdSc in June. His professional qualifications include MCILT, MNLP and MCIM and Chartered Marketer status. His recently completed MBA included research on the subject of achieving change in membership charities.

He is most interested in developing the Ramblers Association to create an organisation for the 21st century but not losing sight of its history and in the process potentially alienating its core support – the members. He obviously has a business perspective for the organisation and is keen to see it grow on a solid strategic platform that stands up to scrutiny.

 

HM

WALK THE WESSEX RIDGEWAY IN 2009

I am looking into the possibility of organising a walk along the 123 mile long Wessex Ridgeway from Avebury (near Marlborough) to Lyme Regis during 2009.

I would plan to do this very much along the lines of the South Downs Way walk last year. This would mean that we would do a walk of around 10 to 12 miles on one Thursday each month from March to September 2009 and follow this up with a 3 day stay in or near Lyme Regis in early October to complete the walk.

Travel on each of the Thursdays would be by coach, at a likely cost of around £17.50 per person. (At the moment I’m afraid I have no idea about the likely cost of accommodation at Lyme Regis!).

In order to decide whether to go ahead with this plan I need to gauge the level of interest. If you think you would be interested please will you let me know by the end of July and then I can plan accordingly. (I might be a bit hard to contact by phone in the next month so an email or an old fashioned note in the post would be most helpful).

AM

MAP READING DAY IN THE NEW FOREST

Following the map reading and new leaders’ day in April a number of attendees asked about a follow-up practical map reading session. This has now been arranged for Saturday 11th October in the New Forest. Numbers will be strictly limited and initial priority will be given to those who attended the training day in April. If you would like to take part please contact me as soon as possible.

AM

FOOTPATH PROBLEMS.

Please continue to let me know about any problems you find on the Rights of Way network so that I can report them to the county council’s maintenance team. You might be interested to know that the RA Hampshire Area is starting to build a ‘chamber of footpath horrors’ on the Area website which can be used for lobbying councillors and other publicity purposes. You can find this at  

http://www.hampshireramblers.hampshire.org.uk/rights_of_way_problems.htm

If you think you have any contributions that are worthy of inclusion then please let me know!

AM

BARTON FARM AND BUSHFIELD CAMP.

Two separate claims to have new footpaths added to the Definitive Map have recently been made by local residents. One claim is for a large network of paths at Bushfield Camp, the other is at Barton Farm.

When dealing with these claims HCC always ask the RA if we have any evidence of use to offer in support of a claim, or whether we know of or use any alternatives. Evidence is sought over a period of time, any usage over 20 years or more is particularly valuable, but use over just a couple of years is also admissible. If you have regularly used a path or paths either at Bushfield or Barton Farm that are not shown on the definitive map and would be willing to submit a simple form providing the details then please let me know. The case at Bushfield is particularly urgent as time is about to run out but please note that usage in this case must be along specific path(s), not just for general open access!

AM

FESTIVAL OF WINTER WALKS -26 DECEMBER 2008--4 JANUARY 2009

The Ramblers Festival of Winter Walks keeps growing from strength to strength and is especially successful in encouraging existing and potential members to venture out and enjoy the pleasures of walking.

The Winchester Ramblers have put on walks in this holiday period and new faces have appeared. It is obviously a time of year when resolutions are made and walking can be attractive, especially to get away from banal TV, the sofa and seasonal indulgence.

In thinking ahead perhaps you might consider leading a walk in late December or early January.

WINCHESTER RAMBLERS WALK’S PUBLICITY

Currently we promote the walks we have on offer in the printed programme and on the website at www.wramblers.hampshire.org.uk.

We could increase our publicity reach in a couple of specific ways:

  1. Providing input to what’s on in the Hampshire Chronicle. We have tried this route to good effect on a handful of occasions this last 12 months.
  2. Putting our programme on the Ramblers’ walks finder site. Take a look at www.ramblers.org.uk/walksfinder. We provide only the general details of the Winchester Ramblers on the site but if you look at other groups such as the 20s-30s, Portsmouth, Meon, Andover you will find they provide a detailed programme, maps and printable programmes.

If we increase the usage of these methods it is important that leaders are comfortable with providing additional details about a walk (egg 6 figure reference for the start point, type of walk such as leisurely, moderate etc) and in providing contact details. It is envisaged that as far as the press is concerned only a phone number would be provided but you will see that for walks finder more information is generally provided including email contact.

What next?

  1. Please let your committee members have feedback with any thoughts, ideas or concerns and we will discuss these at our committee meeting on 7 July.
  2. After this I would envisage further consultation probably by a survey in the summer.
  3. So that we might trial publicity in What’s On in the Hampshire Chronicle more widely, if you are leading a walk in the November – February programme could you indicate if you do not want your phone number to appear in the newspaper when you submit your walk proposal to your walks co-ordinator. In addition if you are able to provide a little more detail on the walk so as to be precise that would be useful. By this I mean something like "Meet at Pig Bush Forestry Commission Car Park (Map ref SU 362 051) for a moderate 8 mile walk".
  4. I would hope to have a status update at our AGM in November and consider how we might develop this further including consideration of using the Ramblers’ walks finder site develop what we do.

WINCHESTER RAMBLERS’ GROUP ANNUAL DINNER ON
SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER 2008

For several years we have had an excellent Annual Dinner at the Cathedral Refectory but as a change we have chosen to switch our venue to The Willow Tree, Durngate, Winchester this year.

Starting at 7 for 7.30 the meal will be a traditional Christmas meal of 4 courses including coffee. A vegetarian option will be available. The cost will be £20 per person.

Currently I have booked for 28 people in the Conservatory Dining Area but up to double this number may be accommodated in the second lounge dining area.

To secure a place at the dinner please act quickly and let me have a deposit cheque of £10 per person plus any requirements for the vegetarian option. (I can discuss any other special dietary needs with the chef). Please make cheques out to H Mycock (67 Quarry Road, Winchester, SO23 0JS). The balance payment plus payment for drinks will need to be made to The Willow Tree on the night.

HM

 

CLARENDON WAY IN A DAY --SUNDAY 29 JUNE 2008

By Heather and Harry M

Join us to walk the Clarendon Way in a Day. This is a 24 mile long distance walk from Salisbury to Winchester.

This walk is available as an all day walk or an afternoon /evening walk. This is the cunning plan…

All day walk with Harry (24 miles)

  1. Catch the 07.23 train from Winchester, then the 08.08 from Basingstoke to Salisbury, arriving there at 08.49. There are no plans for engineering works on 29 June.
  2. Walk 0.8 miles from the station to Salisbury Cathedral. (By the way, with such additional bits as this the day will end up at 26 miles actually).
  3. Assemble and leave Salisbury Cathedral’s main entrance at approximately 09.10.
  4. Walk to Broughton (taking suitable breaks) and after a lunch break meet the afternoon / evening walkers to continue with them from 14.00 on to Winchester.

Afternoon / evening walkers with Heather and Harry (13 miles)

  1. Meet Durngate car park in Winchester at 13.00. Agree car share plans and arrangements for return to collect cars later.
  2. Leave Durngate at 13.10 for 14 mile (by road) journey to Broughton. This takes 20-30 minutes depending on the driver. On entering the centre of Broughton head for St Mary’s Church on the left and the Tally Ho pub on the right. Park hereabouts or drive just over a tenth of a mile beyond church and pub to the Village Hall on the right where parking is usually available to the rear of the Hall on the right.
  3. Meet the all day walkers by the church / Tally Ho for a start at 14.00 and then walk with suitable breaks to the entrance of Winchester Cathedral arriving about 19.00.

We could then repair to a hostelry for a small lemonade or more robust refreshment.

Remember to bring all the gear you need, especially lots of food and water for the day as well as sunscreen, hat, blister plasters and first aid needs. 

On the Midsummer’s Day marathon last year it rained all day but it can’t recur can it?

HM

EVENING WALKS

By Heather and Harry M

It is great to see evening walks back in our programme. It will be interesting to see who we attract.

In a reckless fit of enthusiasm we are offering 3 walks in the summer programme. We hope these and the other on offer help develop this side of Ramblers walks on offer. The three that Heather and I have come up with are around 4-5 miles and are described below. We hope you might join us on one or more…

  1. 2 July 18.30 Magdalen Hill Butterfly Reserve starting from 67 Quarry Road, Winchester and taking in Chilcomb and the Magdalen Hill Butterfly Reserve. This will be high season for butterflies though unless it is really hot we won’t see as many as in the daytime. We will see some interesting flora and fauna and have a pleasant walk anyway. Meet 67 Quarry Rd (SU 494 293). Parking in Quarry Road
  2. 12 August 18.30 Itchen Valley beauties starting from the car park at Avington. We will make a circuit of some delightful Itchen valley villages and scenery. Meet at the car park in Avington (SU 528 321)

2 September 18.30 Battle of Cheriton walk. The battle of Cheriton in 1644 was seen as a turning point in the English Civil War. Enjoy an evening’s walk and learn a little more about this important historic site. Meet in the lay-by (SU 586 277) on the A272 just before reaching the crossroads in New Cheriton if coming from Winchester

HM

CAR SHARING

On occasions passengers may wish to contribute to their Driver’s costs. Your committee has discussed this and suggests that when mutually agreed that a contribution should be made, the following formula should be the basis.

25p per mile covers all costs of motoring for a family car (petrol, tyres, maintenance, insurance etc) it doesn’t cover replacement of the car All Ramblers’ car expenses are reimbursed at 25p The following is suggested.

Passengers pay

Driver and one passenger 12.5 per mile

Driver and two passengers 8.3p per mile

Driver and three passengers 6.25p per mile

Driver and four passengers 5p per mile

There are many occasions when a driver doesn’t want reimbursement, but the above is intended to provide a basis for sharing costs as and when needed.

CT - Treasurer

SUMMER EVENING WALKS

We have put together a programme of 8 Summer Evening Walks during the July to October. Details of these walks are shown on Page 7 of the programme.

The start time will be 18.30 so hopefully Ramblers who work will be able to join in. Some of the walks will have a theme, such as Butterflies’ some will be just a walk with a pub stop at the end (if desired).

All are welcome, please come and join us.

PF

THURSDAY HALF DAY WALKERS

The Group has welcomed some new and returning Ramblers this year and we have enjoyed a varied and interesting programme of walks, we are looking forward to twp "Away Days" walks in the next programme one to the Isle of Wight and one to London.

I would like to thank all our walk leaders especially the new ones< without whom all our programmes would be empty.

DR

RECRUITMENT DAY

We are going to run another Recruitment day on Saturday August 8th in St Maurices’Covert High St Winchester, More details later

Hope some of you are able to help "man" the stall.

PU

ST IVES

Our thanks go to MW for arranging the holiday at St Ives. It was a super holiday with good weather, hostel, and 1st Class leaders