South Cotswold Ramblers’ Group Newsletter - October 2011 Published each year in February, June and October. We look forward to hearing from you with stories, opinions, photos, poetry, art, funny tales, cartoons, appeals, you name it. Please contact the Editor, Mike Garner, 01453 873625, email: [email protected] by 5 January 2012 CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT 2010-2011 I think I can say that it has been another good Appeals for volunteers to join the committee have in year for South Cotswold Ramblers and for that I must recent months, at last, started to bear fruit but we are thank all volunteers who have involved themselves so always looking for members to become more involved. enthusiastically in the Groups activities and all members The more people we can get the more we can do, and who have supported our walks One of the objectives set there is an awful lot we can do, and need to do, if we are by ramblers for the year was to finish the year with at least to keep walking alive and well in the South Cotswolds. the same number of members as we started. This we have We are looking for someone to handle publicity, achieved. We continue to expand our walks programme and this Autumn we will be introducing our Start the Week Walks, a twice monthly series of walks aimed at those wanting a slightly shorter, three to four miles, more sociable walk. We have continued with our two walks on a Saturday once a month and our summer evening walks and both have been well supported as has the rest of the walking programme. Thanks to Mike and the walks coordinators for all their hard work. When possible I have attended footpath committee meetings and this has been a real eye opener. They get through a tremendous amount of work, passing on details of footpath problems to the PROW, which they receive from members of the public or our own members, monitoring progress in resolving them, advising the PROW office on changes to rights of way and getting out into the Northumberland Coast and Farne Islands field to clear footpaths which have become impassable. So thanks to members of the footpath team, Ron, Chris, Bob, plenty of scope here to develop your own ideas to Penny, John and Bernard for all their hard work. publicise our work and programmes. We need a newsletter editor. We need representatives for the Area Council, a chance to learn more about the Ramblers operation. Bernard wishes to retire from his work arranging the installation of kissing gates. We have four in stock with money to buy nearly another four. We need somebody to organise this aspect of our work, identifying and negotiating new sites. And one final moan. Last year the expenses for running South Cotswolds Group came to just over £560. Of this nearly £450 was spent in printing and postage to send hard copies of our programmes and reports to those members who have not agreed to take email communications. Please if you have the facility to take emails contact Mike to make the necessary arrangements. It costs you nothing and saves Ramblers a lot of money. Last year I finished my report saying that we were going through a very strong period. I am pleased to say On top of Snowdon that this is continuing and indeed we are becoming even stronger. We can only continue this with the enthusiasm We have again put on two very successful and support of our members and volunteers, so please holidays. In the Spring Mike organised a holiday to keep up the good work, keep the ideas coming in and Northumberland with HF Holidays, staying in Alnwick. We together we can develop a group which fulfils the needs all enjoyed a variety of inland and coastal walking. In the and aspirations of an even wider walking community as Autumn I took a party of 19 to Betws-y-Coed in well as our own personal walking ambitions. Snowdonia. Again there were a variety of walks including Richard Davis - Group Chairman an ascent of Snowdon for 12 of us. Page 1 - www.southcotswoldramblers.org.uk Footpath Chairman: Ron Dowdeswell 01453 759838 Chairman: [email protected] Richard Davis 01453 762373 [email protected] Footpath Secretary and Vice Chairman: Vice Chairman: Christopher Gent 07917 473146 Ron Dowdeswell 01453 759838 [email protected] [email protected] Footpath Committee Minutes Secretary: Group Secretary: John Corry 01453 845574 [email protected] Bernard Smith 01453 884013 [email protected] Footpath Clearance Group Treasurer: Bob Frewin Diana Davis 01453 762373 [email protected] Footpath Committee Members: Membership Secretary, Newsletter, Website, Book Sales: Penny Fernando Bernard Smith Mike Garner 01453 873625 [email protected] Led Walks Programme Co-ordinator: Press Secretary: Mike Garner 01453 873625 [email protected] Kathy Bullen 01453 860004 [email protected] Led Walks Collectors this time: Group Committee Members: Mike Garner 01453 873625 Start the Week Mar - Jun John Corry Brian Kirkman John McArdell Kathy Bullen 01453 860004 Midweek Mar - Jun John Geoghegan 01453 834141 Weekend Mar - Jun FOOTPATH SECRETARY’S Smith, who has organised the installation of a number of kissing gates around the area. Because of their efforts a large REPORT 2010-2011 improvement can be seen in the quality of a number of the paths In my report last year, I mentioned that this year in the South Cotswolds area. Bob is always on the look out for was likely to be a challenging one for us as Ramblers, due to helpers, so please let me know if you would be interested in the effect that government cuts were likely to have on the helping out on one of his work parties. Public Rights of Way team at County Hall. Unfortunately The more mundane side of our role of commenting on there have been severe cut backs PROW , which has meant various footpath diversion, extinguishment or creation requests that far fewer personnel are dealing with the same workload, continues, along with acting as the liaison between those people resulting in less attention being paid to the day-to-day who complain about footpaths on the Ramblers’ site and PROW management and maintenance of the footpath network. who should sort the problems out – a job they are finding harder to do as the cuts bite. I think we can expect many more complaints about footpaths as PROW resources are stretched, so the next year will be equally challenging. Thank you for the sterling work on the committee by John Corry, Penny Fernando, Bob Frewin, Ron Dowdeswell and Bernard Smith. I would like to end with a request for people to join the Footpath Committee: sadly we are losing Bernard Smith who has served faithfully for many years and, though it will be hard to replace him, we do need to try! Commitments are not huge - four meetings a year, and we have reached a stage where the meetings are short and effective – and the perks are that you have an excuse to visit all the corners of our area and know that you are performing an important role for the Ramblers. Christopher Gent TREASURER’S REPORT 2010-2011 Diana Davis,our honorary treasurer, will present her However, we have risen to the challenge and particular report at the AGM on Saturday 19 November, or you can obtain a thanks must go to Bob Frewin who has carried out a number summary by contacting Bernard Smith, the Group Secretary, (see contact details above) after the meeting. Welcome to New Members Since June we have welcomed another 12 new members. We hope you enjoy belonging. We have already met several of you on Group walks and look forward to meeting more of you. Mike Garner - membership secretary of path clearances (photographic evidence attached) often in the face of hostility from the landowners; and Bernard Page 2 - www.southcotswoldramblers.org.uk If everyone reported a problem… Someone recently wrote to me, “I have predominantly “Ecology and Industrial Archeology” joined as a member to support the Ramblers work on rights of way, I've been surprised how many are blocked in the area Following our AGM at 1:45 pm on Sat 19 November (having moved from Yorkshire), so thanks for all the great work you do.” we are very pleased to announce that Indeed we are all grateful for the work that members of our Footpath Committee do. But with over 3,000 miles of PRoW Ray Wilson, of the Gloucestershire Society in Gloucestershire it’s a huge task. Now there is an easy way for YOU to help, especially if For Industrial Archeology will be giving us you have a computer: Walk leader Maurice Dyett recently put an illustrated talk. See the invitation enclosed. the system to the test and achieved results within a few days. On pre-walking a group walk he was due to lead, he discovered a broken footbridge near Cattle Country at Berkeley. He went on line www.gloucestershire.gov.uk clicked A-Z, clicked P, scrolled down to Public Footpaths and clicked, clicked Public Rights of Way, then clicked Report a problem on a Public Right of Way, followed the instructions and typed in the details. He was given a case number, and was able to log on again at any time to see the progress of the case. Maurice did this and on returning noticed an entry saying that the bridge had been inspected, and replacement ordered! Bernard and Richard looking on while Mike Garner proudly displays his award of a certificate signed by Ramblers President Julia Bradbury to show that he was Highly Commended for 'Growing the Organisation' in the 75th Anniversary Awards.