Geoff Farrow, , Maureen Davis, ,

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THE RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION NORTH-WEST ESSEX GROUP www.northwestessexramblers.co.uk https:/www.facebook.

net SECRETARY Vacant TREASURER Maureen Davis, 01376 330978, Email imedavis@sky.com MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Janet Bugler, 2 Lime Grove, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 7PE 01787 373173, Email janet.m.bugler@btinternet.

1 THE RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION NORTH-WEST ESSEX GROUP WINTER PROGRAMME DECEMBER 2017 MARCH 2018 CHAIRPERSON Geoff Farrow, , SECRETARY Vacant TREASURER Maureen Davis, , MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Janet Bugler, 2 Lime Grove, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 7PE , janet.m.bugler@btinternet.com RAMBLES SECRETARIES Gwen Worrall, , gwenrworrall@gmail.com Ann Bennett annkbennett@outlook.com PUBLICITY Geoff Farrow, , geoff.farrow@lineone.net COMMITTEE Clive Collins, Ronnie Davis, Francis Starnes FOOTPATH SECRETARY Paul Evans, , paul@peke.com Katherine Evans, , katherine@peke.com PLEASE NOTE: On walks DO NOT consume your own drinks in pubs or pub gardens. Times given are for the start of the walk. Please allow time for parking and putting on boots etc. A maximum of two dogs are generally allowed on walks. Please contact the leader beforehand. Dogs must be on leads along roads or near livestock and under close control at all other times. All walks are at Rambler s own risk. Neither the R.A. nor the leader can accept any responsibility for any accident or injuries which may occur during any of the group s walks or other activities.

2 Page 2 CHAIRMAN S RAMBLINGS First of all thanks to the 29 of you who turned out at our AGM in November on a dull Saturday afternoon. This was nearly double the number of attendees at last year's AGM although we could always do with a few more people helping on the committee side of things. Again we have managed to run a full programme of walks which takes us through the winter and into next spring. I look forward to seeing you on some of these walks even if you do not walk regularly with the group. In October a group of us spent a pleasant week in Christchurch staying by the side of the River Stour and on the edge of the New Forest. Conveniently our visit coincided with a festival of walks being held in the area by the local Ramblers' groups and we joined them for walks on a couple of days. Even in a relatively small area the scenery can vary widely, one day we were in T-shirts strolling on the beach at Mudeford Spit, the next day we were picking our way along muddy forest tracks. The public inquiry into the blanket closure of railway crossings affecting public rights of way in Essex commenced at Chelmsford Civic Centre in mid October but was adjourned by the inspector until January due to the non-compliance of Network Rail with the correct notification procedures. You can keep up to date on this matter via the Ramblers' Essex Area website where you can also make a donation to the legal fighting fund. Members are encouraged to attend one of the sessions when the inquiry resumes to show support for the Ramblers and to demonstrate public interest in this issue. In August the group celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a sumptuous cream tea at Spencer's Farm Shop in Wickham St Paul preceded by a short walk in the surrounding countryside, although we were unlucky enough to encounter a brief but heavy downpour half way round. We have two more social events coming up in this programme so please mark the relevant dates in your diary. On 13th January we are having our post Christmas lunch at Weavers Restaurant in Bocking Social Club and on 7th April we are holding a barn dance at the Maurice Rowson Hall in Gosfield. Dances will be guided by the experienced caller Sibby who has apparently written no less than 28 books on dances so the event should be well worth attending. Please see our programme for further details of these events. Happy rambling! Geoff DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 23 DECEMBER JANUARY 2018 FESTIVAL OF WINTER WALKS For further walks in our area see also Essex Area website SATURDAY, 13 JANUARY 2018 POST CHRISAS MEAL Our post Christmas lunch will be held at Weavers restaurant, Bocking Club, Church Street, Bocking, CM7 5LA on Saturday, 13 January, for 1.00 pm. 19 for two courses, for three courses. No deposit is required but food choices to be ordered by 6 January. The menu will be circulated among members and available on our web site. After that date, no amendments can be made to either choices or booking. Please let Maureen have your orders on imedavis@sky.com or text message to or Fran on frankieflossie@yahoo.co.uk TUESDAY, 30 JANUARY COMMITTEE MEETING See programme for details SATURDAY, 10 FEBRUARY ESSEX AREA AGM Venue Chelmsford County Cricket Ground. AGM followed by presentation by Ramblers Head Office on use of social media and publicity. For further details see

Page 3 DATE/LEADER DECEMBER WALKS MAP REF Sat 2 nd 10.00 am Ronnie 01787 479177 07974 635627 Sun 10 th 10.00 am Gwen W & Ann B 01245 382399 07976 709056 01371 856659 07756 559179 Sun 17 th 10.

3 Page 3 DATE/LEADER DECEMBER WALKS MAP REF Sat 2 nd am Ronnie Sun 10 th am Gwen W & Ann B Sun 17 th am Maureen GREENSTEAD GREEN Park alongside recreation ground. Tea and cakes at end. 6 miles CHRISAS CAROL SERVICE, MANNINGTREE Park at Manningtree station (small charge). Circular walk then Lawford church for Walkers /Cyclists carol service. Please bring torch (essential) for walk back to station. Wear something Christmassy! 7 miles TERLING Circular walk via White Notley. Park opposite village hall. Approx 11 miles FESTIVAL OF WINTER WALKS BEGINS EXP CO91QZ CO11 2LH EXP CM3 2PS WISHING EVERYONE A VERY MERRY CHRISAS AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR WITH LOTS OF HAPPY WALKING IN 2018 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY (continued) SATURDAY, 10 MARCH THE MANSELL WAY A circular walk around Braintree dedicated to the memory of Dennis Mansell, photographer, journalist and hill walker. First section 10 March, second section to follow in next programme. SATURDAY, 7 APRIL BARN DANCE AT 7.00 PM With caller 10 per ticket to include fish supper (alternative chicken/sausage available) at Maurice Rowson Hall, Church Road, Gosfield, CO9 1UB. Details/menu also at Names to Ronnie by 23 March or cheques payable to V R Davis.

4 Page 4 DATE/LEADER JANUARY WALKS MAP REF Tue 2 nd am Gwen W Sun 7 th am Ann S Wed 10 th am Keith, Angela & Beau Sat 13 th for 1.00 pm Sun 14 th am Janet & Clive Sun 21 st am Gwen W Sat 27 th am Geoff Sun 28 th am Julie Tue 30 th 2.00 pm BLACKMORE END Park in village hall car park. Walk is mainly on bridleways and very quiet country lanes. 6 miles STRATFORD ST MARY Walk via Dedham/Flatford. Park near weir in main street miles FESTIVAL OF WINTER WALKS END SHALFORD Joint with Uttlesford. Starting at the George pub, optional lunch at pub afterwards. Parking in the George pub car park if eating afterwards. NB: please book meal before the walk begins. Approx 6 miles POST CHRISAS MEAL AT BOCKING SOCIAL CLUB See dates for your diary. EARLS COLNE VIA CHAPPEL Park in public car park behind the Co-op in Earls Colne. Approx 8.5 miles FORD END Park in car park opposite church. 8 miles LONG MELFORD TO SUDBURY Park in Old School car park Long Melford (opposite Melford Hall). Linear walk along Melford Walk and Stour Valley trail to Sudbury. Bus back. 5 miles RICKLING GREEN Park near Cricketers Arms pub. 11 miles COMMITTEE MEETING in the function room of Swan public house, Rayne. All members invited. FOOTNOTES CM4 0QS CO6 4LJ CM7 5HH CM7 5LB CO16 2RP CM3 1LH CO10 9DX CB11 3YE CM77 6RQ Eleven members plus 3 visitors enjoyed Tony s walk around Spitalfields and Whitechapel. We explored haunts made famous by Jack the Ripper and the Kray twins. We also walked the Flemish and Jewish quarters and saw how continuing waves of immigration have left their mark on the city. It was a fascinating day s walking. Many thanks go to Tony for all the research and, as usual, finding a good pub at the end. Total of walks this year: Essex 60, Suffolk 7, Hertfordshire 4, Cambridgeshire 1 totalling 74. This is six less than last year. Many thanks to all our valiant leaders. SEVERE WEATHER - Should we experience bad weather, please phone leader to check if walk is going ahead. NEXT PROGRAMME Gwen and Ann s Tuesday walks look for these on the next programme. They will be between 4-7 miles and at a relaxed pace.

5 Page 5 DATE/LEADER FEBRUARY WALKS MAP REF Sun 4 th am Ann S Sat 10 th am Teresa Sun 11 th am Marion & Graham Tue 13 th am Ann B Sun 18 th am Ronnie Sun 25 th am Lynda LONG MELFORD Walking via Lavenham. Park in public car park opposite Melford Hall. 11 miles GOSFIELD TO BEAZLEY END Park beside lake in Gosfield miles TIPTREE VIA LAYER MARNEY TOWER Parking at Tiptree Heath B1022 Maldon Road miles DYERS END STAMBOURNE Parking in car park next to church. 5 miles NACTON, SUFFOLK Park at Nacton picnic site (from A14 take Church Road, which leads to Shore Lane and car park). 10 miles SAFFRON WALDEN Circular walk via Newport. Park in long stay car park off B184 (free on Sunday). Approx 9 miles GROUP HOLIDAY IN CHRISTCHURCH CO10 9AA CO9 1UD EXP CO5 0PT CO9 4NP EXP IP10 0ES CB10 1DH Nine of us went on a week s holiday in October staying in two self catering townhouses overlooking the River Stour, my first holiday with the group. Day 1: We were fortunate to have chosen the same week as The New Forest Walking Festival so, on the first day, we joined the local ramblers for a circular walk round Christchurch Harbour. Here we encountered our first ponies and very lively they were! We continued along the River Stour taking the Wick Ferry across and then walking up to Hengistbury Head (great views) and along the beach to Mudeford Spit. We passed the Mudeford Spit beach huts where we contemplated purchasing one, but fell a few pennies short of the 250,000 price tag. We finished the last leg of the walk passing Highcliffe Castle. Day 2: We thought we would venture to the New Forest. I had offered to lead the walk which started from Brockenhurst (a 30 minute journey from where we were staying). On arrival I discovered I had left the walk details back at our house! Fortunately we had an OS map and with help from Janet and Ann, we negotiated our way round. Conditions were very eerie with a very dark sky and orange sun. Later we found out it was due to the remnants of Storm Ophelia dragging tropical air and dust from the Sahara. Geoff then treated us to tea at the Balmer Lawn Hotel and Julie enlightened Gwen on how to make a frittata! Day 3: We walked from Christchurch to Bournemouth along the sea wall. There were some rather large waves and we enjoyed watching the handsome men surfing (well I did anyway). Six of the group decided to walk on to Sandbanks, but Julie, Gwen and I decided to stay as it had started to rain. This is where Julie and Gwen introduced me to Weatherspoons!! where I had the most delicious gluten free carrot cake and a cup of tea. Day 4: The walk on day 4 encompassed Whitfield Moor and the Tall Trees Trail with its amazing redwoods and firs planted in I had the day off visiting a relative but I heard that Julie did a great job leading this walk.

6 Page 6 DATE/LEADER MARCH WALKS MAP REF Sat 3 rd am Gwen N & Teresa Sun 4 th am Janet & Clive Sat 10 th am Teresa Sun 11 th am Ann S Sun 18 th am Jo Sat 24 th am Ann B Sun 25 th am Geoff Sat 31 st am Maureen CHALKNEY WOOD Park at Tey Road entrance. Approx 8 miles GLEMSFORD, SUFFOLK The Glem Valley. Parking at Tye Green, Glemsford. Approx 10 miles MANSELL WAY SECTION ONE Braintree station to Bocking via Rayne and Panfield. Linear walk. Park at Braintree station car park (charges apply) return to Braintree by bus No 38 (5 and 25 minutes past each hour. Approx 8 miles CLARE COUNTRY PARK car park (charges apply) Approx 10 miles MUNDON VIA COLD NORTON Park at St Mary s church at end of Vicarage Lane. Approx 10 miles PEPPERS GREEN Park in lay-by on A1060 opposite lane signposted Peppers Green. 5-6 miles GREENSTEAD GREEN VIA HALSTEAD AND EARLS COLNE Park at Greenstead Green recreation ground. 10 miles DEDHAM Circular walk via Langham. Park in High Street or street parking nearby. Approx 11 miles GROUP HOLIDAY IN CHRISTCHURCH (continued) CO6 2PR CO10 7RQ CM7 3QL EXP CO10 8NW EXP 176/ CM9 6PA CM1 4PS CO9 1RG CO7 6DE Day 5: We joined the New Forest Ramblers on a circular walk starting at Fritham through the New Forest and over heath land. Here we saw ponies, donkeys, cattle, deer and pigs. Pigs aren t present throughout the whole year in the New Forest. They are brought in each autumn and set loose, in a practice known as pannage, in order to eat the acorns that fall. Acorns can be poisonous to cattle and ponies so the pigs do a good deed by eating them up! Day 6: Our last walk of the holiday started from what was Breamore Railway Station, along the disused railway line, incorporating bridleways and country lanes through the Breamore Estate up to North Charford Down (excellent views), then back to rejoin the railway track. A variation of walks made the holiday most pleasing. I joined the group eating out on three of the evenings and enjoyed their company. But I also had some fun evenings with Gwen when I stayed in. Thank you all for a lovely holiday and a big thank you to Ann for organising it. Regards Lynda

SOCIAL CALENDAR 2016

Cattle Duffers Flat Anzac Day SOCIAL CALENDAR 2016 The following calendar has been arranged for you and we hope that you enjoy the activities. Remember all functions on the water are subject to the weather.