North Hampshire Downs Ramblers Group Newsletter Autumn/Winter 2008/9
Chairman's Message - Welcome to the new walks programme and newsletter. A bit thanks goes to all our existing walks leaders, and a plea for new leaders please. We are in desperate need of new leaders, especially for the popular Tuesday walks, any ideas where we can get these from would be appreciated. Please contact me on 01256 479951, or e-mail Atstoneybroke@aol.com, or you could come along to the Group's AGM on Monday 17th November (details below) and make yourself known. The group really needs you. My thanks goes out to our existing leaders for their continuing support and commitment.
Group AGM 2008
Monday 17th November at 7.30pm at the TMCA building, Eastrop Way, Basingstoke, opposite Eastrop Park. From J6 of the M3 or A30 follow signs to town centre. Take left at lights into New Road, next lights turn left, London Road. Then left again into Eastrop Lane. At the bottom follow the road round to the right, the building is on the right immediately after the allotments.
Guest speaker is Harry Mycock - Harry is a member of the Winchester Group and was recently elected to RA Board of Trustees - he is an excellent speaker.
Please come along and support your Group.
Diary Dates
The Festival of Winter Walks will be from 26th December 2008 to the 4th January 2009 inclusive.
Social nights - Wednesday 19th November 2008 at the Way Inn, Chapel Hill, near Basingstoke Railway Station from 7.00pm, and Monday 16th February 2009 at the Queens Arms, again near the station from 7.00pm.
Group Christmas Dinner - Monday 19th January 2009 at 7.30pm, venue is Galleto's Italian Restaurant, Winchester Road (top of town), Basingstoke, if you would like to come along then please contact Margaret Payne on 01256 353229. Closing date for booking is 5th January and a deposit of £5/£10 per person will be required. Please phone Margaret for more details.
Saving the Planet and Your Pocket Too - Travelling to Walks by Public Transport!
There are walks that you can get to by bus or train in this programme and you can purchase cheap fares for these. Stagecoach buses do Dayriders tickets, which, if you need to use a number of buses can be quite a saving. It's worth looking at this method of getting to a walk start point and getting home again. South West Trains, First Great Western Trains and Southern Trains all offer group savers where you require three or four people to form a group. You save more for a group of four people. If two weeks' notice could be given then South West Trains do offer a ten of more person big discount, but this would require the leader to be contacted two weeks prior to the date of the walk in order to take advantage of this offer.
Please note - if you are planning to go on one of the more distant walks in the programme by car rather than by train, it would be a great help to know that you are planning on coming, so could you please contact the walk leader listed on the programme for that walk the night before at the latest to confirm that you are going.
Welcome to New Members
Lynda and Barry Huntbach, Douglas Sellwood, Mrs P Stow, Anthony Danes, Anthony and Laura Goodyer, Stephanie and Clarke Wardle and Tanya Hayes.
Vacancy for Social Secretary
This post would require you to be able to book halls for meetings three times per year plus the AGM and to organise social events throughout the year. If you are interested please could you contact the Group Secretary before the AGM on 17th November - Mike Taylor on 01256 842468, or email taylor@mgksb.wanadoo.co.uk. Margaret Payne, who has been doing a tremendous job for the last eight years, has decided to hang up her knife and fork. We thank her for all she has done for the Group.
Advance Notice for 2009
The Hampshire Area AGM, hosted this year by the Andover Group, on Saturday 14th February 2009 2.00pm to 5.00pm at Penton Village Hall, Foxcotte Lane, Penton Mewsey, Andover, SP11 0RA. There is a five mile before the meeting at 11.00am. Guest speaker is Keith Robert, RA Campaigns Director. This is a great opportunity to meet members of other Hampshire Groups and to learn a little more about the RA's activities and work.
A New Edition of a Popular Local Walks Book
Stephen and Pam Turnerrecently published a revised and updated edition of "Family Walks Around Hook, Hartley Wintney and Rotherwick". Just like the earlier books in this popular series, it includes twelve easy walks suitable for families. the walks described are between three an dive miles long with easy to follow maps.
The "Family Walks Around" series was founded by Bob Rose in 1990, and have sold extremely well. As Bob's editions go out of print they will be replaced by further updated versions by Stephen and Pam. they are currently working on the next book "Family Walks Around The Blackwater Valley".
The new edition is available at £3.00 from Trees Newsagents in Hook, and bookshops in Fleet and Farnborough, or may be ordered from your local bookshop. Please contact Stephen and Pam on 01252 810852, or see www.elvethampublications.co.uk for further information.
Walking The Way To Health
This scheme is operated by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. The walks are for people who need help to improve their health or maybe to recover after illness or an operation, and to restore their fitness levels. It is not a race! Walks start from Eastrop Park on Mondays (except Bank Holidays) at 11.00 am. One walk is 50 - 60 minutes long, the second is 75 minutes (or 3.5 miles). On Thursdays walks start from Down Grange at 11.00 am, Fridays at Popley at 11.00 am, and also from Tadley at the same time. There are also evening walks all year round between 7.00 and 8.00 pm on a Wednesday. All walks are by trained leaders and back markers. For more details please contact Jane Wilding on 01256 845574.
Finally, check out our footpath problems page.
Web Site - if you have anything you would like to add to this web-site including photo's, you welcome to do so by emailing georgie12@tiscali.co.uk. Please note that Hampshire County Council has migrated this web-site, and our new site address is www.ramblersnhd.hampshire.org.uk.
© North Hampshire Downs Group of The Ramblers' Association 2004