CHAIR’S REPORT 2020-21 Well, this could be the shortest Chair’s report in the history of Stafford Rambling Group. We   started   the   year   (April   in   terms   of   these   reports)   with   our   walks   programme   suspended   and   the   Spring   Weekend having   just   been   cancelled   because   of   the   Covid   lockdown.   Whilst   the   extent   of   the   lockdown   has   varied,   we   have not   had   the   certainty   of   walking   to   make   it   worthwhile   producing   the   two   programmes   which   would   normally   have been   published   since   then.   The   Autumn   Weekend   in   Durham   was   advertised   but,   after   much   soul-searching   was cancelled,   The   committee   took   the   decision   in   October   ((rightly   as   events   have   turned   out)   not   to   go   ahead   with   the Spring Weekend in 2021. We have also not had a Christmas gathering or a dinner ramble. However,   the   year   hasn’t   been   entirely   blank   and   some   walking   has   been   possible   as   a   group.   Our   walks   were classified   as   an   organised,   outdoor   activity   and   this   enabled   us   to   walk   in   a   group   of   up   to   30   during   September, October   and   December.   We   had   to   strengthen   our   safety   guidelines.   Walk   leaders   had   the   extra   burden   of   keeping records   for   the   track-and-trace   system.   They   accepted   this   cheerfully   and   came   forward   with   offers   to   lead   walks   at relatively short notice. This year more than most we have cause to be grateful to them and I thank them all. The   relaxation   of   the   lockdown   in   the   summer   meant   we   were   able   to   have   a   treasure   hunt   in   August   with   a   dozen participants.   The   need   to   maintain   a   social   distance   limited   the   opportunity   to   filch   answers   from   others.   Thanks   to Beryl for organising this. A   big   learning   experience   for   most   people   this   year   has   been   getting   to   grips   with   a   platform   for   holding   virtual meetings.   SRG   has   embraced   Zoom   and   this   enabled   us   to   have   on-line   gatherings   in   the   run   up   to   Christmas   and on   New   Year’s   Eve   (a   first   for   the   group,   I   think).   Thanks   to   those   who   performed   party   pieces   on   either   occasion. Zoom   had   also   enabled   the   committee   to   meet   on   its   normal   cycle;   these   meetings   have   been   admirable   in   their brevity   but   then   we   have   had   much   less   to   discuss   than   normal.   For   all   that   we   must   be   grateful   for   these   various forms of contact, they are not the same as a face-to-face get-together. The   discovery   of   Zoom   came   too   late   to   save   the   AGM.   We   did   our   best   to   replicate   this   by   circulating   the   usual reports are no issues were raised. We   have   just   learnt   that   we   resume   walking   as   a   group   and   by   the   time   I   present   this   report   we   should   be   back   into some   sort   of   a   routine.   Less   happily   we   have   just   cancelled   our   October   weekend.   This   followed   an   on-line   survey trying   to   assess   how   many   members   would   be   likely   to   participate   and   the   number   well   below   the   minimum   to   make it   viable.   More   were   interested   in   a   weekend   in   April   2022   and   we   are   looking   at   the   possibilities.   I   am   happy   to receive comments on the position at the AGM.  I   am   not   aware   of   losing   any   members   to   Covid   but   a   number   of   members   have   lost   family   and   friends.   As   a   group we offer our condolences. Trevor 5 April 2021 Trevor Whincup