South Cotswold Ramblers’ Group Newsletter - October 2013 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. This edition was edited by Sally Davis 01453 872729, email: [email protected] After our “Muddiest Walks” pictures in the last newsletter, let’s start with celebrating how glorious the last few months have been. Here is a summary (summery?) of recent months. A brilliant year Blossom in for butterflies Brimscombe Cygnets growing well We passed this calf on the Nature trying to keep cool in Reserve on Andrew’s the heat (difficult with Deerhurst walk a coat like that) on Richard’s 12 mile walk from Haresfield This beautiful garden attracted our Fields full of poppies attention in in the North Condicote when we Cotswolds were walking the Gloucestershire Way Chairman: Website: Mike Garner & Sally Davis Richard Davis 01453 762373 South Cots Newsletter: Sally Davis [email protected] Area Newsletter: Angela Marks Vice Chairman: Footpath Chairman and Footpath Secretary: Mike Garner 01453 873625 Bob Frewin 01453 545752 [email protected] [email protected] Group Secretary: Footpath Committee Minutes Secretary: Bernard Smith 01453 884013 John Corry 01453 845574 [email protected] [email protected] Footpath Clearance Group Treasurer: Bob Frewin Brian Witcombe 01453 872220 Footpath Committee Members: [email protected] Penny Fernando John Clayton Membership Secretary, Book Sales: Led Walks Programme Co-ordinator: Mike Garner 01453 873625 Mike Garner 01453 873625 [email protected] [email protected] Press Secretary: Led Walks Collectors for Mar - Jun 2014: Kathy Bullen 01453 860004 John Geoghegan 01453 834141 Weekend [email protected] Anne Eamer 01453 842551 Start the Week Without portfolio: Gentle Walks John Corry Brian Kirkman Diana Davis Kathy Bullen 01453 860004 Midweek Walks The Gloucestershire Way Saturday Sept 7th saw the South Cots Ramblers finish the final leg of the Gloucestershire Way at Tewkesbury Abbey. This walk (organised jointly by Mike and Richard) started in Chepstow on Saturday 29th October 2011 (2 years ago!) On that first leg there were 15 walkers, including an elderly lady who lived in Scotland but came to the Stroud area from time to time and walked with the South Cots. She walked some of the way with us. It was a beautiful Autumn day and we enjoyed the company of a friendly Old Spot pig who liked our coffee-stop banana skins. We restarted after the winter, doing 2 legs through the Forest of Dean - in one of which we were refreshed in a fascinating Victorian tea room with an oriental flavour, the other in a garden centre. Then on into Gloucester along an about-to- flood River Severn. Leg 5 had us entertained by the arrival of bride and groom at a wedding while this sweaty bunch of ramblers ate their sandwiches on the village green in front of the church. Leg 6 was the last one of 2012 as the days grew too short. For this we were joined by Costas (not the coffee shop but a friendly Londoner here for the day) as we went through villages to the north of us. We began again in the Spring of this year passing more picturesque Cotswold villages, churches, big houses, lovely gardens and even a brewery and a horse racing training yard. 95 miles/151 km later, we reached Tewkesbury Abbey (still in good weather), where we celebrated with tea and cake (all for £2.99!) at the Bell Hotel just opposite the Abbey. The 11 South Cots who had completed the entire Gloucestershire Way were presented with certificates, Ramblers beer mats and badges. If you would like to join us on our next linear walk, see details of the up-and-coming Ice Cream Walk. Welcome to New Members Since the last newsletter, 8 new members have joined the group. We welcome them and hope they enjoy walking with us. Mike Garner, Membership Secretary Going away with Ramblers Holidays? We have recently received a sum of money for Group Funds from Ramblers Holidays where members taking a holiday with them have nominated South Cotswold Group. If you ever forget to tell them when booking, there is still time if you contact them before you go. By your doing so, they will donate £10, £20 or even £30 per person to our funds to be used to benefit walkers. For more info, click the link to Walking Partnership on our Messages page. If you wish to put any items in the next newsletter (which will go out in February), please send them to Sally Davis ([email protected]) by 5th Jan. Cream of parsnip and pear soup Melon and grape cocktail Traditional prawn cocktail Ham hock terrine with an apple & mulled wine chutney ~~~~ Traditional Norfolk turkey pigs in blankets, sage &onion Stuffing, and pan gravy Baked cod fillet with a herb crust on a cherry tomato and caper basil dressing Braised leek and goats cheese tartlet on a watercress sauce (V) All the above are served with selection of fresh market vegetables ~~~~ Brandy snap basket with vanilla ice cream and mixed berries Pot au chocolate with home-made shortbread Fresh fruit salad Cheese Plate ~~~ Coffee & Mince pies £19.95 per person VENUE: Minchinhampton Golf Club. The new club LUNCH BOOKING SLIP (by 30 November) is on the road to Avening. Ramblers have been happy with this venue for several years and it has been well- Please book ................... places(s) at the Annual supported. There is a limit on numbers, so book lunch @ £19.95 per person. early! CLOSING DATE: 30 November 2013 I enclose a cheque for £ .................. payable to ACTION: South Cotswold Ramblers in full payment. 1)Please return the booking slip together with a Signed ................................ cheque for the full amount, payable to SOUTH COTSWOLD RAMBLERS, to: Contact details: Name:.......................................... Sally Davis, 23 Bownham Park, Rodborough Common, Stroud, GL5 5BY (01453 872729) by the Address:................................................................… closing date – 30 November 2) Please send me your choices from the menu either Email:..........................................… by post or email to [email protected] by 15 December Tel no......................................... Shropshire 9-13 September 2013 Three days we walked. No rain, some sun And up the Wrekin, this time climbing. Down the other side we went, no fun, They came to Salop, one and all. And on to Ironbridge with rhyming The South Cots Ramblers led by you Couplets in our ears. We nearly Know who, and answering the call Lost our way but sterling Mike, with Were Di & Mike and Pam and Sue, brilliant timing Rescued us. Without him, clearly, John G, John E and Timothy We might have never seen the Iron Bridge, Olivia and Pete and Peg Or Queenie’s Cup Cake Caff. Plus Bruno, Michael G and me And no one with a poorly leg. We walked from Aston on the Clun But what about the rest, you say. To Clun itself, both, Housman claims, Don’t worry, they’re all here, with Heath- The quietest places under the sun. Er, Sal, Anne E and Hazel, Les But not when we were there, for none And Alex, Vennae, as pronounced Vennay. Shall sleep when we draw near. We are a noisy lot I fear We walked on Wenlock Edge, like A. We left and didn’t leave our names. E. Housman. And from there on top We saw The Wrekin. then away Day three we spent upon the Mynd To find the Lion on Wyle Cop. We didn’t mynd, to fynd so fyne A mountain scene. No wynd, no wynd. We found the chef was off that night. At last, at end of day, we went Eventually they brought the feast Our weary way to whyne and dyne, But ne’er a vegetable in sight Kyndred spirits in the end, The bread we thought was good, at least. Remembering the Land of Lost Content. This appalling piece of doggerel was sent to us anonymously, possibly from the sous-chef at the Lion because we didn’t bring him back a cup cake. The opening lines of William Blake’s Jerusalem might have been a better introduction to this panegyric about our splendid Autumn holiday in the Shropshire hills. We have Richard and Di to thank for organising the entire trip. While in Shrewsbury they were able to hand over responsibility to the Ramblers, in the shape of Jenny and Roma, who shepherded us on and off coaches, and took us on three splendid walks. As the above poem (or pome) says, we walked from The Wrekin to Ironbridge on Tuesday. We now know all about our industrial heritage, iron, and even, thanks to Sally’s phone, the constituents of steel. Wednesday was spent in tranquil idyllic hills and valleys, starting from Aston on Clun. Apart from pouring rain as we walked into Clun, the days were fine and the visibility superb, with 360 degree vistas from the top of the Wrekin, and from the top of the Long Mynd, which we climbed on Thursday. The Lion suited our needs admirably, although the creaking floorboards, noisy lift and long leisurely dinners (a euphemism) stretched our goodwill somewhat. Richard asserted his rightful position as leader of this merry band by leading us on walks on our way there, and again en route home. Monday we met in Much Wenlock and walked on Wenlock Edge, beloved of poets and Vaughan Williams, with its dramatic view of The Wrekin. On the way home, despite delays due to diversions, which only served to bring out the best in our characters, we hacked our way through undergrowth, eating blackberries and ambling along the Severn Way.