FARNHAM RAMBLERS....NEWSLETTER 58....AUTUMN 2012 Hello everyone - Our 50th Anniversary celebrations are over - a great series of events but completed with a sigh of relief by all your committee that everything went well!!! There is a brief summary below. May I thank, Margaret Hooker, Barry Smith, Anthony - for the loan of his marquee, your committee members and all those others who helped to make these events the success that they were. Our membership continues to grow and is at 472 thanks to the welcome that you all give to prospective and new ramblers. Please keep encouraging others to join us. I would like to thank Roma Soden for her 5 years as Walks Coordinator for the Thursday Shorter walks. When we split the Thursday walks in to two, one longer and faster and the other shorter and slower, Roma took on the shorter walks. Also thanks to Bernadette Kamill for Co-ordinating the Sunday Longer Walks for many years. Both have 'managed' very successful programmes. So thank you very much Bernadette and Roma, from all the walkers. Dave Gibbs has kindly agreed to take over the Sunday Longer Walks and John Plympton the Thursday Shorter Walks - so walk leaders should expect to be 'chased' by them as they put together future programmes. John Hemsley, Chairman THE 50th. ANNIVERSARY SUMMARY The Walks 1. The Farnham 50 Mile Circuit - Saturdays 9th. and 30th. June. This was walked over 2 separate Saturdays with 24 ramblers walking on the first Saturday and 15 on the second - a special mention should go to the 5 members who completed all of the 50 miles - Chris Addison, Mike Desborough, Sue Hearn, Godfrey Howard, and Ian Shanks. 2. The 50 Mile Anniversary Week - Sunday 10th. to Saturday 16th. June. The weather was atrocious at the beginning of our week but improved steadily over the 7 days. 9 walks were lead during this week and 149 ramblers took part. All the anniversary walks had a theme that related to the 50 year history of our Rambling group and there were many very positive comments from ramblers complimenting the leaders and others on the knowledge passed on and the explanations given during the walks. Thank you to Gerald Turner, Maz Viveash, Malcolm Morse, John O'Donoghue, Anne Pullinger, Geoff Hooker, John Plympton, Mike Desborough and Linda Rowland for leading our 50th. Anniversary Walks and to Mike again for the 50 Mile Circuit. The Social Events 1. The 50th. Anniversary Hog Roast Lunch on Saturday 16th. June 120 members, former members and guests enjoyed this relaxed and social celebration. Mary Pullinger, a founder member and Benedict Southworth, Chief Executive of The Ramblers Association were our guests. Mary and her husband Frank helped to organise the first walk programmes back in 1962/63. Benedict congratulated us on our 50 years, addressed the gathering and presented Sylvia and Bob Kimmis with a Long and Good Service Award. Congratulations to Sylvia and Bob who are still contributing to the life and activities of the Rambling organisation and our rambling group and have been for over 40 years. 2. The 50th. Anniversary Dinner on Saturday 11th. August This three course dinner was at Waverley Abbey House. Before the reception, Barry Smith lead a guided short walk to the 12th. Century Cistercian Waverley Abbey which can be seen from the house. This was thoroughly enjoyed by nearly 40 members including our guest Kate Ashbrook ( see photo below ). Many thanks to Barry for his expertise and information. A glass of sparkling wine in the evening sun, served on the terrace looking across the gardens to this Abbey, welcomed them back and all the other 69 attendees. Mary Pullinger was again with us as our guest and John Nathan, Chairman of Surrey Area and his wife also joined us. At the end of the dinner, Kate Ashbrook, who has recently been appointed Chairman of the Ramblers Association and is a long standing trustee, addressed us. She reminded us of our heritage and why many of the public footpaths in England are only here because of the efforts of Ramblers in the past. She complimented Farnham Ramblers on our 50th year, our full programme and our activities to protect and maintain our footpath network. She even recalled some of the public enquiries in which we had been involved. She urged us to 'keep defending- our rights of ways' and offered her help if needed. An inspiring and motivational speech. Our thanks to Sue Hearn and Geoff Hooker for organising this successful event. Barry Smith reviews the history of the Cistercian Waverley Abbey, visible in the background. Our president, Kate Ashbrook, on left in a pink shirt, listens with interest. The 50th. Anniversary Booklet Every member and many former members should have received a copy of this booklet. Its history section is now on our website so as to be available to all. If any member has not received their free copy and would like one, will they please contact me on 01-252-792570 or email [email protected]. 50th. Anniversary Badge The design was displayed at these events and at the AGM. Please contact Geoff Hooker for details or to order one. ( [email protected] or 01252 713752 ) COMING UP Winter Walks Festival. This series of walks is from December 22nd. to January 6th. We plan to have a local walk every day during the Festival. See the walk programme for details. Christmas Dinners. also see walk programme Wednesday Long Walkers on 12th Dec. at the Farnham House Hotel, 12.45 pm for 1.15 pm. There will be a walk that morning at 10.00 am from the Hen & Chickens (SU 756 422) For further information please contact Bill Joint on 01252 620935 or email: [email protected]. Wednesday Short Walkers on 12th Dec. at the Hollybush Pub at Frensham 12.30 after 10.30 am 3 mile walk from Hollowdene Recreation ground led by Anne Pullinger. Lunch at 12.30. Booking in advance essential. For details Tel: Anne Pullinger 01252 725661. Thursday Long Walkers on 13th. Dec. at 12.30pm at the Water Witch, Odiham. Ann Nelson will lead a walk of 4.5 miles from Colt Hill CP in the morning and resume after lunch for a further 2.5 miles. Costs are £15.99 for 2 courses, or £18.99 for 3 courses. Bookings, with a £5 deposit and your food order, should be with Ann (01252 510462) by 25 November. Thursday Short Walkers on 20th Dec. Walk 10.15 am. 4.5 m. Alice Holt - Gravel Hill CP. SU 803 434. Morning walk only. Followed by Lunch at Forest Lodge. Contact Janet de Vulder to book - 01420 473945. Friday Walkers on 7th. Dec. at the Barley Mow at the Sands at 1.15pm. Anyone who wants to book it, please contact Liz Witham on 01252 721087, email: [email protected]. There is a £5 deposit and your food order needs to be with Liz by 29th. Nov. Surrey Area AGM on 9th. February. 2 pm - 5 pm East Horsley Village Hall, Kingston Avenue, East Horsley KT24 6QL . There are two walks beforehand - a 5 miler starting 1040 and a 3 miler starting 11.40. See walk programme for details and/or see the Surrey Area website. Litter Pick Walk 14th. January. Liz Witham is leading another litter pick starting at Farnham Park Golf Club Car Park at 10.30 am. Please come and help keep our countryside clean. Saturday Special 23rd Feb, from Richmond for a 6 mile walk up Richmond Hill and along the Thames to Teddington Lock; then back via Twickenham old and new. Bring packed lunch or eat at a pub. We visit two. Meet at Farnham Station in good time for the 8.58 am train, (half-price in groups of 4). Leader Liz Witham. Spring Social 9th. March at South Farnham School. 7 o'clock. Please put the date in your diary. Spring Holiday 2013: Oxwich Bay, Gower Peninsula This 5 night holiday from 19th to 24th May will be based at the Oxwich Bay Hotel, south Gower. The holiday is already full with 45 members booked . Gaynor Ross and Mike Desborough are arranging this holiday and they aim to provide a short, medium and long walk each day. For more details or to join the reserve list, please contact Gaynor Ross 01252 799930 to see if are places become available. Autumn Holiday 2013: We are planning two holidays in the Autumn - The Dales Country House Hotel, Sheringham, Norfolk. 1st – 6th September 2013 for 5 nights The Sheringham terrain is relatively flat compared with Surrey. The hotel is situated on the edge of a lovely woodland area and the walking will provide many different views of the sea. They have a web site at www.mackenziehotels.com should you wish for further details. The hotel is some distance from shops. There are several interesting places to visit in this area. Sandringham is not too far for a daily trip. Wells next the Sea is a quaint seaside town worth a visit and there are several nature reserves in the area. Jean Mortlock will lead a short walk on arrival day (Sunday) at 3pm so that ramblers can stretch their legs. The cost will be £360 per person for a double or twin room, £460 for a single room for dinner, bed and breakfast for 5 nights. If you would like any further information, please give Jean a ring on 01206 738675 or e-mail [email protected]. Booking is on a first come, first served basis.