CHAIR’S REPORT 2017-18
This
report
covers
the
period
from
April
2017
to
March
2018.
Overall
I
believe
that
we
can
look
back
on
the
year
with
quiet
satisfaction.
We
have
delivered
on
our
programme
objectives,
maintained
our
membership
and
are
financially
sound.
We
have a lively web site overseen by John and a Facebook group which is (I think) even livelier.
Our
regular
walks
programme
has
been
full
with
a
wide
range
of
leaders,
some
of
whom
led
their
first
walk.
I
have
to
thank
all
of
these
because
the
programme
is
the
backbone
of
the
club.
I
will
however
single
out
one
for
special
praise.
Most
people,
not
surprisingly,
prefer
to
lead
their
walks
in
better
weather.
Well
Jeanette
put
herself
down
for
three
–
two
short
walks
and
one
long
–
in
December
and
January.
That
was
above
and
beyond
the
call
of
duty.
Last
winter
was
not
good;
we
have
got
used
to
wet
winters
but
this
time
we
have
had
three
separate
periods
of
snow.
I
cannot
recall
such
disruption
to
the
walks
programme
with
several
cancelled
and
some
relocated.
This
snow
lsted
virtually
until
the
end
of
the
year
covered
by this report.
I
have
noticed
that
our
long
walks
are
getting
shorter.
I
used
to
say
that
they
were
10-12
miles
with
the
occasional
longer
one.
Then
the
longer
ones
stopped.
Then
there
was
the
occasional
shorter
ones.
Nowadays
we
rarely
do
11
miles,
even
on
weekends,
and
those
are
the
least
well
supported.
Perhaps
this
is
simply
the
sign
of
an
aging
membership.
Another
is
that
we
are
struggling
more
and
more
to
find
both
leaders
for
long
walks
and
members
who
are
willing
to
drive
the
hour
which
used to be common for our summer walks. Your committee will monitor these issues.
Our
first
special
event
of
the
year
was
the
Spring
Weekend
in
Exmouth.
We
had
a
large
turn-out,
brilliant
weather
and
a
really
good
hotel.
The
area
is
not
an
obvious
choice
for
a
coastal
break
but
I
think
there
was
a
lot
of
appreciative
surprise
as
to
how
lovely
it
is.
We
also
had
the
Day
from
Hell
as
we
learnt
about
the
problems
of
over-relying
on
satnavs.
But
really,
could
we
have
anticipated
that
there
are
two
villages
called
Sticklepath
in
Devon?
Enough
said
about
that
other
than
once
again
to
thank
everyone
for
their
exemplary
patience
in
the
face
of
these
difficulties.
Thanks
to
John,
Mike,
Ruth,
Beryl
and
Angie for leading the walks, to Beryl for the chocoholic bingo quiz and to everyone else for not setting off the fire alarms.
The
coach
ramble
was
to
Betws
y
Coed.
We
had
to
cancel
this
through
lack
of
support
in
2016
so
it
was
heartening
to
have
a
virtually
full
coach.
This
was
partly
down
to
having
a
few
non-walkers
who
had
the
chance
to
visit
Bodnant
Gardens.
Nevertheless
we
had
two
well-supported
walks
lead
by
Angie,
Joan,
Tony
and
Chris
(who
also
organised
the
day
including
the
customary
superb
weather).
I
thank
them
all.
The
moment
that
sticks
in
my
memory
was
completing
the
climb
on
to
a
plateau and seeing Snowdonia just ahead of us. And slap in the middle was my favourite mountain, Tryfan.
The
weather
was
less
kind
for
our
evening
event
in
August,
a
treasure
hunt
around
Penkridge,
but
we
still
had
a
decent
turn-out
and
stayed
predominantly
dry.
I
think
all
of
us
went
to
parts
of
Penkridge
that
we
didn’t
know
existed
and
we
all
made it back to the pub. Thanks to Carol for organising this.
Perhaps
the
most
disappointing
aspect
of
the
year
was
the
low
number
(29)
who
attended
the
autumn
weekend
in
Great
Yarmouth.
We
do
seem
to
struggle
more
in
autumn
than
in
spring.
In
fact
we
were
well
below
Just-for-Group’s
usual
minimum
number
but
we
must
have
some
credit
in
the
bank
with
them
because
they
readily
allowed
us
to
go
ahead
with
the
booking.
Our
walks
were
varied
–
Foxton
Locks,
the
north
Norfolk
coast,
Breydon
Water
and
Granchester
–
and
the
scenery
was
at
its
best
because
of
sun
(including
the
orange-brown
sun
which
was
a
sensation
on
Facebook)
Beryl,
Chris,
Tony,
Angie,
Carol
and
Jenny
led
walks
and
Pam
organised
one
quiz.
We
survived
another
bingo
quiz
from
the
doyenne
of
the
genre.
We returned to Tillington Hall for our Christmas celebration. This was full again – not surprising after the previous year’s
triumph. There was a problem when the hotel discovered they had double booked our room. They asked us if we would
mind moving to the public area and offered some free wine in compensation. We said “Yes” I’m not sure what then
happened but fairly late on we were given an upgrade to their best function room and we still got the free wine! Is there no
end to Beryl’s talents!
The
dinner
ramble
had
two
unusual
features.
Firstly
the
organiser
was
missing,
having
had
a
better
offer.
Also
missing
were
any
rambles,
another
casualty
of
the
Beast
from
the
East.
Fortunately
the
roads
to
the
pub
were
clear
so
that
the
meal
could
go
ahead
at
the
Old
Dun
Cow
in
Colton.
The
food
was
good
and
we
virtually
had
a
room
to
ourselves
which
always
improves
the
ambiance.
Perhaps
we
should
go
back
next
year
so
that
Mike
and
Angie
can
show
off
the
walks
they
designed.
Our
thanks
to
Chris
for
finding
the
pub
and
to
Angie
for
pulling
the
arrangements
together
when
the
better
offer
came along.
Staffordshire County Council initiated a public consultation on the maintenance of public rights of way. This seemed to be
driven by a perceived need to reduce expenditure on maintenance so release funding for other services, social care being
cited as the prime example. SRG submitted comments to the effect that cuts in the relatively small budget for public rights of
way was likely to be counter-productive through eroding the known health benefits of walking as well as suggesting
alternative strategies for savings particularly in corporate governance. Sadly the County Council seems intent on pursuing
its original proposals.
In
March
we
were
saddened
to
learn
that
Stuart
Dunmore
had
died.
We
knew
that
his
health
had
been
failing
and
that
he
had
recently
gone
into
residential
care.
As
a
group
we
owed
him
a
lot;
he
had
been
a
regular
walk
leader,
helped
with
pre-
walks,
served
on
the
committee
and
was
generous
with
his
time
and
expertise.
I
was
pleased
that
so
many
of
us
were
able
to
attend
his
funeral
and
I
know
that
we
will
help
Maggie
in
coming
to
terms
with
life
without
Stuart.
Another
friend
of
the
group
also
died.
Most
of
you
will
not
have
heard
of
Fiona
Brownsell
but
she
was
our
main
contact
at
Just
for
Groups
and
contributed
significantly
to
the
planning
of
weekends
away.
Also
on
the
health
front
Chris
Johnson,
Marian
Powell
and
Tony
Leech have had problems but happily seem to have recovered well.
I have always said that this is a friendly group but I was still touched by the support which Beryl and I received in coping with
particular family problems last year. We appreciated this. Thank you.
Trevor Whincup
