SANDWELL GROUP – RAMBLERS’ ASSOCIATION
NOTICE BOARD:
Anniversaries, Birthdays, etc.
65th Birthday
Don
Evitts, the Group’s Publicity Secretary and Area Representative, was 65 on
The Group’s Social Secretary, Val Figg, was 65 on
Brian Stevens was 65 on
Jenny Baker was 65 on
Cynthia Farnell was 65 on
Betty Evitts was 65 on Tuesday
Golden
Wedding Anniversary
Roy and Doreen Smith celebrated
their 50th Wedding anniversary on
Retirement
Chairperson, Vivien Du Bois is set to retire from full time employment on
Many congratulations to the above
popular Group members.
The Everest Marathon - 5th December 2007
Group members Phil Holmes and Jim Day took part in the Everest
Marathon. They would like to thank the following group members who sponsored
them:-
Brian Adams, Dorothy Craxford, John
Craxford, Doreen Darrock, Vivien Du Bois, Pete Ellin, Betty Evitts, Don
Evitts, Eric Farmer, Cliff Farnell, Peter Figg, Val Figg, Pat Geddes, Brian
Gregg, Jan Gregg, Lyn Harley, Lawrence Humphries, Barry Jordon, Paul Marsh,
June Newman, John Scott, Joyce Scott, Margaret Skelton, Bryan Snape, Annette
Stubbs, Ken Weaver, Jill Woodward.
The contributions totalling £97.50 went to the Everest Marathon Fund (in aid of
development projects in
Chidren
in Need Charity Walk,
39 members and friends supported
the Group’s Charity walk for this most worthy cause. A 10 miles walk was led by
Peter Figg, and John Scott led the 5 miles walk, both held in
A big thank you to the following who made the effort to take part:-
Brian Adams, Jenny Baker, Terry Bithell, Kerry Bowden, Geraldine Childs, Adrian
Cope, Doreen Darrock, Betty & Don Evitts, Eric & Iris Farmer, Cliff
& Cynthia Farnell, Peter & Val Figg, Dawn & Seanne Franks, Brian
Gregg, Jean Groutage, Rene Horton, Lawrence Humphries, Phil Hunt, Glyn Karr,
Paul & Cathy Marsh, Andy Morris, Gill Morris, Sean Mosedale, June Newman, Diane Nicholls, Joyce & John
Scott, Margaret Skelton, Bryan Snape, John Talbot, Ken Weaver, Mike & Mavis
Whale, Jill Woodward.
A special mention is merited for Andy Morris, whose individual effort raised
£100. Well done Andy, and thank you.
Staffordshire
Area AGM & morning walk, Sunday 26 November 2007
Thank you to the following 19
members who supported Sandwell Group at the Staffs Area AGM and morning walk in Weston Coyney:-
Brian Adams, Vivien Du Bois, Betty & Don Evitts, Cynthia & Cliff
Farnell, Val & Peter Figg, Jan & Brian Gregg, Jean Groutage, Joyce
& John Scott, Margaret Skelton, Doreen & Roy Smith, Brian Stevens, John
Talbot, Ken Weaver.
We are grateful to the hosts, Stoke Newcastle Group, who looked after us so
well in Weston Coyney Village Hall for the meeting and lunchtime period, and
for staging a superb 6 miles walk during the morning in Park Hall Country Park.
Group Christmas Walk and Lunch,
Despite the freezing weather, 43
members set off on the 0937 train
from Hawthorns Station to Hagley to participate in the Christmas walk. The 8
miles walk to Blakedown was interrupted by a convivial midday stop at the
‘Cookley Arms’ before finishing in sunshine at the ‘Old House at Home’ pub in
Blakedown where lunch had been booked for 3.30pm for the entire walking party
plus 5 non walkers. After the meal, the song sheets came out and the pub was
entertained to an enthusiastic session of carol singing. Amazingly, the return
train from Blakedown turned up on time at
Our thanks to Peter Figg, assisted by several marshals, for leading the
walk and organising the meal at the pub. Thanks also to mine host Simon
at Blakedown, and his staff for making us so welcome. We hope that they will
put up with us again next year!
Chistmas Dinner and Dance, Saturday
The Sandwell annual Christmas
Dinner/Dance was held at the Sandwell Park Golf Club and was attended by over
60 members and friends. Once again, the Golf Club provided a superb meal which
was a fitting prelude to a hectic session of dancing to ‘Revival’. Our thanks
to Valerie Figg for organising such a splendid evening.
Ladies’ Weekend, Friday 20 to Sunday 22 April 2007
16 lady group members enjoyed
superb weather on a walking weekend at Clun YHA in Mid Wales. The hostel was an
old water mill and was manned by extremely hospitable wardens who were
volunteers on a working weekend.
A lovely varied eight miles
walk at Bishops Castle on Saturday was followed by a 7 miles walk from the
hostel on the Sunday.
Excellent evening meals, and
a rock & roll band were enjoyed at the White Swan in Clun.
The party are very grateful
to leader Eileen Hedley who did such a marvellous job in organising the
weekend.
Salcombe Weekend, Friday 11 May to Sunday 13 May 2007
The Weekend
away at Salcombe in May 2007 was dedicated to the celebration of Colin
Statham’s 80th birthday and in grateful recognition of his efforts
in leading May weekends in the early days of the Group.
Colin was a founder member of Sandwell Ramblers in 1992 and led Group weekends
to Ilfracombe, Lynton, Salcombe, Swanage, Lulworth, Scarborough, Exmoor, Whitby
and the Gower.
30 or so members enjoyed the stay at the Sharpitor
Youth Hostel with walks arranged for Saturday and Sunday.
The
Saturday walk took place in fine weather and involved a 13 mile walk to and
from Hope Cove.
The walk on Sunday was spoilt by the torrential rain but Colin was photographed
with the Group by the memorial tank at Torcross. The Sherman tank commemorates
the fateful Operation Tiger in which 639 American soldiers and sailors lost
their lives during a Normandy landing rehearsal off the coast of Devon in April
1944, when a German Torpedo Boat penetrated the British defensive shield and
sank two LSTs. This was an appropriate setting, as during the war, Colin served
in the Royal Navy on minesweepers and LSTs as a gunner.
The
walks and excursions were replicas of those held in Salcombe 10 years ago in
1997, but this time they were led by Betty & Don Evitts to whom the Group
is grateful for organising the entire weekend.
Lakes
Weekend, 6 – 8 July 2007
46 or so members attended this
year’s visit to Keswick.
Three walks were held on Saturday 7th, the A walk (Scafell Pike) led by Phil
Holmes and Peter Ellin, the B walk (St John’s in the Vale) led by Eric Farmer
and a C walk (Seatoller to Keswick through Borrowdale) led by John Scott.
On Sunday 8th, the main morning walk was Latrig led by Eric Farmer whilst John
Scott led a walk to and from Threkeld with a pub stop at the Salutation.
We are indebted to the leaders for leading the walks and also to Peter Figg for
organising the weekend.
The weather for the walks on both Saturday and Sunday was dry and warm, which
meant lots of liquid was consumed at the Keswick Conservative Club in the
evening - a big thank you to stewards Wal & Jackie, the committee, the
members and the cabaret artists for entertaining us so well.
Rambler Friendly Pubs:-
The Malt Shovel at Highly, Shropshire. Tel 01746 862550, Email
LiOka6@aol.com
Licensees: Jason & Lisa. Took over in November 2006. From Rowley Regis
originally.
Visited on Tuesday 6 September with party of 23 led by Brian & Jan Gregg.
Extremely warm welcome - good pub food, Hobson’s beers.
Nice garden and patios with marvellous views of the Clee Hills.
Sunday lunch for £4.95
The Peacock Inn, Main Street, Tysoe,
Warwickshire CV35 0SE. Tel 01295 680338
Licensee: Jan
Warm & friendly village pub serving traditional pub food
Recommended by Peter Figg after a recent visit.
The Huntley Arms at Wheaton Aston,
Staffordshire. Tel
Licensee:- Keith
Canalside pub with excellent pub food. Close to the Staffordshire Way.
Weekdays £6 for two meals for pensioners. Beautifully served and marvellous
value.
The Huntsman, Little Wenlock,
Licensee:- John Haffall.
Swan, Fradley, Staffs. Tel 01283
790330
Very friendly pub with good food.
The Ship Inn, Barlow Hill, Wincle,
Licensee:- Chris Knight
Walkers very welcome in the tap room.
The Hill Tavern,
Licensee:- Lorraine Gannon
Visited by a large coach party of Sandwell Ramblers after the Three Peaks walk
on Sunday 16 March 2008.
Good food with a warm and friendly welcome. www.hilltavern.co.uk
The Bell, Trysull,
Visited on Wednesday 23 April with party of 24 led by Brian & Jan Gregg.
Extremely warm welcome - good pub food. Nice sheltered patio with tables and
chairs. Large car park.
Licensee:- Steve
(updated 8 July 2008)
To return to opening page - click contents.html
To go to Introduction & General information - click intro.html
To go to Walks Programme – click walk.html
To go to Social programme – click soc.html
To go to Officers & contacts – click contacts.html
To go to Sandwell Stride Health Walks – click stride.html
To go to Walking in Sandwell Strategy – click strategy.html
To go to Annual Reports – click report.html
To access Ramblers’ Association national web
site
– click www.ramblers.org.uk
To access R.A.Staffordshire Area web site
– click http://homepages.tesco.net/~staffsra
This notice board
facility is provided for any member, walk leader, social organiser etc. to
issue a news item, to publicise an event or to advertise the sale of equipment.
Please submit your item to John Scott (tel 357 1079. Email:
johnscott@sandwellramblers.org.uk) for publication.