GR 2012 Final Draft
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October 2012 Newsletter of the Glamorgan Area A CHANCE TO HIGHLIGHT The big story of the past year has to be the Wales Coast Path. Its importance is reflected in the Group reports which reveal so many of the Areas Groups participating in events over the open- ing weekend with significant numbers attending. The numbers visiting the opening celebrations in Cardiff, as seen in the accompanying picture, show the depth of public support. The hope is, of course, that the public- ity will have a knock-on effect on mem- bership. It is perhaps too early to tell whether the slow decline in member- ship has been staunched. However, a number of Groups, including mine, are seeing an upward trend which at least augers well. Gwyn Lewis, with his Membership Officer hat on, offers a Crowds at the opening celebrations in Cardiff of the Wales Coast Path number of ideas that might attract new members in his report. drilling in the Glamorgam Area. In Alex also reports the sad news of the death of Stephen Luke of the Maesteg In the reports you will note the absence addition Alex Marshall in his report Group. His contribution to the Group of a Countryside Officer’s report. This mentions a Working Party reviewing was immense and it is clear he is going is because no-one was elected at the Ramblers Cymru policy on renewa- to be sadly missed. I would offer my AGM in Maesteg to fill Tom Allen’s bles. It would be good if a volunteer condolences and can add those of the shoes. It is a vital job particularly with would step forward to fill this post to Wales Office and WCEC. high profile issues such as more pro- co-ordinate Glamorgan Area’s re- posed wind farms and ‘fracking’ test sponse to all these issues. Diane Davies GLAMORGAN AREA AGM SATURDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2011 at 2:00pm Meeting at Ararat Centre, Plas Treoda, Whitchurch Common, Cardiff CF14 1PT Guest speaker: Anne Marie Beresford-Webb, ‘Arry’, talking about the Wales Coast Path Morning Walk at 10:00am from the Ararat Centre CHAIRMAN be referred to as a ‘Sounding-Board’, group along the Heritage Coast on apparently. They have had an initial Sunday 6th. A huge thank you to I must say I was impressed with the meeting at which four members of everyone involved in the planning, or- Vale Group’s organisation, for our Na- Glamorgan Area were in attendance. ganising and participating in making tional Eisteddfod presence in Lland- The meeting went quite well I under- the event a resounding success. ow: firstly, the manning of the stand stand, and no doubt we will be updated for the whole week and then their of- about this and other important innova- Our AGM was hosted by the Maesteg fering of a local walk each day from tions at our AGM in November. Group and held at St Michael’s Monday to Thursday. This coincided, Church in the town, with the local MP perhaps deliberately, with the opening News of the Area Annual General Huw Irannca Davies being our guest of the Iolo Morganwg Trail. Many Meeting will be given in detail else- speaker. He gave an enlightening talk thanks are due to Graham Woosnam where in this newsletter. Suffice it to on a whole host of environmental is- for the walk directions and to the per- say that Cardiff Group are hosting this sues facing the UK over the coming son who did the excellent translation as well as the Area walks this year. years. A presentation was made on of those directions into Welsh. Our speaker at this event will be the behalf of WCEC to Richard Lloyd young woman who was the first to Jones by Alex Marshall (in the absence The Area walks were organised for us walk the whole of the new Wales of the Chair of Ramblers Cymru) in this year by Cardiff Group. I went on Coastal Path, Anne Marie Beresford- recognition of his efforts as President the eleven miler with Diane Davies, Webb. I say walk, but I believe a little of Ramblers Cymru over many years. which included walking around the running took place as well. But we can Our Chair ensured the business of the Bay, something I have not done before. forgive the lifting of both feet from the AGM ran smoothly and we succeeded I understand that each walk was well path every so often as she gave our in filling most of the officer posts, al- attended, and we would like to send Coastal Path some useful publicity and though we are still in the market for a our thanks to those who planned, rec- great plugs for local activities during Publicity Officer and Countryside Of- ced and led those walks. the opening of the route around Wales’ ficer. Thanks to all concerned for their coast. efforts on the day. I have just heard the very sad news that Stephen Luke, the Maesteg Group Congratulations to Gwyn Lewis on The Area Walk on 13th May was Treasurer, has died quite suddenly of becoming Chairman of Welsh Coun- hosted by the Cardiff Group who pro- cancer. Stephen was only a young cil, since the resignation of Denis vided three well-supported walks all man by our standards, since he was in McAteer. Family issues have had to starting from the Scout Hut at Pont- his early thirties. With Roger, his fa- take priority for Denis since his elec- canna Fields. A big thank you to Di- ther, Stephen was doing a lot for Maes- tion at Welsh Council 2012. At a ane and Gwyn and everyone in the teg group and often attended our Area recent meeting of WCEC Gwyn was Cardiff Group for ensuring that the Council meetings in Cowbridge. He elected to take over the role with im- day was successful. will be difficult to replace and much mediate effect. He will be a strong missed by his family and the ramblers chairman and I look forward to work- Welsh Council was held in Wrexham in Maesteg. ing with him on behalf of Ramblers this year and I (and my wife Chris) Cymru. I am sure we all wish him well represented the Area. We had an in- Following on from the difficulties at in that role. teresting talk from Benedict South- Welsh Council 2012, a Renewable En- worth, the new CE of Ramblers; we ergy Working Party will carry out a Alex Marshall wish him well. Our President Jane review of policy in this area of interest. Davidson during her address talked I am unsure at this stage if anyone about her hopes and aspirations for the from Glamorgan Area is on the work- Wales Coast Path. There was a lot of ing party. I imagine there was tough AREA SECRETARY ‘business’ and ‘motions’ to get through competition from Ceredigion for on the day, and unfortunately as we places on the panel, since they have According to the Ramblers, walking is were running over schedule the Chair on-going problems in their area and the closest thing to perfect exercise, the called a halt to proceedings before very strong feelings as well. Let us most sustainable and social able mode some of the Agenda items could be hope they can present a plan to Welsh of transport and can help deliver eco- discussed, much to the chagrin of a Council 2013 that we can all commit nomic benefits. Who can argue that number of delegates, which resulted in to. The group is made up of ten mem- 2012, as far as Ramblers in Wales were the meeting ending in an air of disarray. bers from across Wales who expressed concerned, has been a good one an interest in joining. The review itself (weather apart!). After years of plan- Our Area meetings at the Duke of is being managed by expert independ- ning, we saw the official opening of the Wellington in Cowbridge continue to ent consultant Ruth Chambers 870 miles of the Wales Coast Path in be well supported by most groups in (previously with the Campaign for Na- May, a cause for celebration indeed. I the Area. However, it is disappointing tional Parks). She will do this in con- was fortunate to join Swansea Group to report that we have not had any sultation with Director Wales, Angela on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th for two representatives from either Merthyr Charlton, who will attend and support of their walks planned over four days Valley or Tawe Trekkers attending for the meetings. along the coastline of the whole of the a number of years. City & County of Swansea as part of As part of the Business Plan, a Rights the ‘Big Welsh Coastal Walk’ organ- Lastly I would like to acknowledge the of Way and Access Group has been ised by Ramblers Cymru. I also man- support of all volunteers within the established in Wales. It will probably aged to fit in another one with my own Glamorgan Area, those officers who run our groups, and all those walk leaders producing such interesting and regular walks, without whom, we could not function. Pob hwyl Allan Harrison TREASURER Group funding continues to be re- stricted by Central Office’s use of a Basic Allocation. For 2011/12 this was £85 per group plus £0.75 per group member. This is not intended to be sufficient funding for most groups. They have the choice of either submit- ting a budget for additional funding or reducing their reserves.