Mid-Sussex Rambler Newsletter of the Mid Sussex Ramblers Number 156, August to November 2017 CHAIRMAN S SCRIBBLINGS Jill Brown Summer is now here. Please take the time to read this newsletter as it will give you an idea what our particular Rambling Group has been up to and what is on offer in the next few months. On our varied and interesting walks we can look forward to heady scents, fabulous colours and wildlife, all in the countryside around us. I hope that this season gives each member of Mid Sussex Ramblers the chance to enjoy their membership and what the walks programme has to offer them. WALKING WEEKEND 2018 Ray and Alison Heath Following our successful visit to the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean this year, in April 2018 we are doing something slightly different and taking a group to the HF house in Selworthy. The dates are Friday 27 to Monday 30 April inclusive and we are hoping to take a coach of Ramblers to stay at Holnicote House. The walks on Saturday and Sunday will be led by HF leaders and the shorter walk on the journey home on Monday will be home-made. Please send in your booking details, using the form with this newsletter, and enclose a deposit cheque to the value of 75 per person. Unfortunately, HF have different requirements to many other hotels and they need quite a sizeable deposit up front. There are only a very limited number of single rooms so please try to pal up with someone else and book a twin bedded room if you can. We are going to allocate the single rooms differently this time and intend to put all the names into a hat and pull out the successful ones one by one. This way it will not matter if you do not get your Page 1 of 12
booking form into the post immediately and it gives you time to look for a friend to share with, should the need arise. If you are not walking one day, other places to visit in the area include the West Somerset Steam Railway, Lynton and Lynmouth, Porlock Bay and the town of Minehead. Please note that the closing date for sending in the booking forms and deposit cheques is 31 July 2017, after which we will carry out the draw for the single rooms. A WALK WITH LONDON BLIND RAMBLERS Alison Heath On the 4 June, I joined the LBR walk led by our Chairman, Jill Brown, which started at 11am from Lewes railway station and took us onto the South Downs. We were well matched this year with enough helpers to lead our blind and partially sighted friends and the walk was a real pleasure. The weather was sunny and dry, but not hot, so we did not suffer from heat stroke! There was one guide dog in the group, a young yellow Labrador called Ruby. The walk took us along some streets of Lewes and then, near the prison, we started going uphill onto the open downland. The ascent was gradual and we were soon enjoying lovely views as we headed to the top of Black Cap for our picnic lunch stop. After taking photographs and having a good break, we returned to Lewes via Mount Harry and the beacon. We got our visitors back to the railway station in time to catch their train about 3:20pm. Some of the visitors were booked to walk the South Downs Way later in June so we hope they completed the trail! They are also visiting the Rother Ramblers group in September for a whole weekend of walking activities. We wish them well. A BIG Thank you to all the helpers. IN MEMORY OF JOHN BARNES Brenda Barnes I cannot believe it is a year since my dear John died. If I have not thanked you for the generous gift of your donations then I do apologise and want to let you know that I appreciate all your kind words and support. Page 2 of 12
I am pleased to inform you that the family and I have bought a lovely strong bench in memory of John, which was placed at the top of The Hooke in Chailey on 02 April this year. Please feel free to visit this and enjoy the view and beautiful countryside. Also, we have commissioned a Darts Trophy Cup in memory of John and look forward to the tournament held at The Horns Lodge pub and seeing some of you there. Date to be confirmed. Please get in touch if you are interested in attending. John was born and bred in Chailey and loved this village and its people. He was involved in many of the local activities and this is a good way of remembering him. (Editor s note Les Campbell has arranged a leisurely 3 mile circular walk on level ground in memory of John, to take place on Sunday 06 August 2017 starting at 2:30pm from South Chailey. More details are in the Walks Programme accompanying this Newsletter. Please contact Les if you need more information.) ACCESS UPDATE Richard Mercer 1. Over one kilometre of surfacing has been laid between the footpath that runs from Warninglid Lane at GR 134 / TQ 239266 south to the bridleway at GR 134 / TQ 238260 and the continuation of the bridleway south west through to the bridleway junction on Free Chase Hill at GR 134 / TQ 232254. Both footpath and bridleway were partly impassable in winter but now, with the surfacing and new culverts, they are usable at any time and are a safe off road route between Crabtree and Warninglid. 2. The bridleway from the east end of Cissbury Ring at GR 121 / TQ 142081 south to the road to the Hill Barn Golf Course Clubhouse at GR 121 / TQ 143055 was fairly steep, narrow and heavily gullied from water flowing down the centre. The side vegetation has been severely cut back to widen the path and the surface of the path has been flattened to provide a much safer and easier surface. This work has been carried out partly by volunteer rangers. 3. South of Holtye east of East Grinstead, on the footpath from the minor road (Butcherfield Lane) at GR 135 / TQ 454379 north to the footpath junction at GR 135 / TQ 458384, a new 14 metre Page 3 of 12
bridge has replaced the previous unsatisfactory structure at GR 135 / TQ 455381. RESOLUTIONS FOR THE AGM Sue Blandford Any ordinary resolutions for consideration at the Annual General Meeting, on 15 November 2017, must be submitted to the Group Secretary (Sue Blandford) by 15 October 2017. AN EYE OPENING WEEKEND ON WYE Stella Law Travelling through the Spring countryside of the M4 listening to Chris de Burgh and Enya, I had time to reflect on the lovely weekend I had just spent with Ray and Alison putting some final touches to the Wye Valley weekend which some of you will have already enjoyed by now. This was their 4th? visit to the area with another planned for March. Every detail is checked and double checked; timings are most important as 3 groups of walkers have to be dropped off and, of course, picked up. We played at being a big green coach - is this road suitable? Where can I stop to let people out and is it safe to do so? Can I turn into that car park and manoeuvre my way out to continue on to the next drop off point? All this has to be carefully planned and timed (we nearly took the top off the bus a couple of times so a different drop off point had to be found and all the timings changed!) Some might say Oh, they just pull the walks from the Internet! Wrong! Every walk is designed for your pleasure, taking in as many of the wonderful scenic views as possible with little diversions for that extra vista. Picnic stops have to be found with, hopefully, a view and plenty of Page 4 of 12
trees (!) and timed, of course, as there are two other groups and all to be picked up at the end. I knew they worked hard on every aspect but this was a real eye opener for me. I was there to help (Ha Ha) with the routing of the town trails in Monmouth and Chepstow. By chatting up the locals (now I am good at that!) we gleaned all kinds of local knowledge including the best tea shops where we gathered even more interesting facts. These will have been used in that delightful booklet that Ray produces for each member partaking of the holiday. The amount of time and research that goes into that is another story. Monmouth was exceptionally good. I hope some of you enjoyed the replica coins on the trails and could recall some of them like the old thru penny bit and the florin (showing my age now!). The hotel had already been checked by William and Tony, and later by Sue and Phil, so over the weekend we sampled all the items on the breakfast menu and decided to have one of the picnic lunches for our journey home (the meats used were home sourced from their carveries). Even on our journey home Ray with his sat navs, yes two of them, and Alison with her map and charts were still working on timings - each junction is timed and alternatives noted. Coach drivers are lawfully obliged to take certain breaks and these have to be built into our busy schedule which is, of course, unique to us. Their dedication to our enjoyment was obvious and I only witnessed a few days - what goes on when they get back home must be enormous. All that data, all those facts, little snippets written on sodden paper, leaflets picked up all to be unravelled and used for your enjoyment. I thoroughly enjoyed being a little part of this weekend and hope that everyone has enjoyed their stay in the Wye Valley. Maybe you can also reflect on the enormous amount of work that went into it and, I might add, at no cost to any member. Thank you Ray and Alison. (Editor s note As many know, Stella was taken ill and so was not able to join us for the weekend proper so we are even more grateful that she was able to enjoy our recce visit and see the key sights.) WYE VALLEY WEEKEND Sarah Hall We had a good journey down on the Ramblers coach and after a slight detour off the M25 due to heavy traffic, we arrived at the Belfry Hotel in Littledean. After a quick turnaround we set off on the first of many adventures. Page 5 of 12
We boarded our coach for a short trip into the Forest of Dean taking in the Cyril Hart Arboretum which was made all the more interesting by having a wonderful leaflet prepared by William, which challenged us to find and identify various interesting trees. On our return to the hotel, our coach driver deserved a medal for his parking skills! Dinner that evening was a marvellous carvery and everyone decided how far they would be walking the next day. Saturday After a hearty breakfast we picked up our packed lunch and set off in the coach for Symonds Yat car park where we split into three groups with a further option to head into Monmouth. Our leisurely walk took us through mixed woodland full of interesting flora and fauna including wood spurge, early purple orchids, and bluebells. There were many different birds such as warblers, blackcaps, nuthatch and chiffchaff, not to mention various butterflies, newts and thousands of tadpoles! When we finally reached the viewpoints for Symonds Yat, the scenery was stunning in the warm Spring sunshine and the sight of a Peregrine Falcon nesting in the cliffs was a bonus. Later that afternoon, we moved on to the Speech House and carried on into the Forest of Dean, following the Sculpture Trail, some of which was brilliant especially the suspended stained glass forest scene which lit up in the afternoon sun. After dinner that evening, some went upstairs to play skittles and some decided to ramble on over a bottle of wine. I m sure an equally good time was had by all! Sunday After yet another hearty breakfast (it s a good thing that this was a walking holiday) we drove and then walked a short distance to the Devil s Pulpit near Chepstow for the most amazing view looking down Page 6 of 12
over Tintern Abbey and beyond. We then drove into the village itself and from there the coach went on into Chepstow with various drop-offs for different walks, again in glorious warm sunshine. We discovered that Tintern had been the heart of the wire making industry hundreds of years ago although little remains in the area as proof of its industrial past. We took the scenic route back to the hotel which took us alongside the River Severn. After dinner that evening, various people, egged on by Ray, regaled us with stories, jokes, poems and anecdotes. A fun filled evening rounded off the day wonderfully! or he had a twin brother!) Page 7 of 12 Monday Nearly home time already! Doesn t time fly when you are enjoying yourself! Shane, our host at the hotel, came to see us off having looked after us splendidly - Jack of all trades and Master of all of them! (Either that Our last stop was at the Cotswold Water Park with various lakes to walk around and lots of waterfowl to try and identify. It was also the headquarters of Cotswold Outdoors with a flagship store and a rather good café which we all took advantage of when it stated to RAIN. Yes, I suppose it was inevitable on a Ramblers holiday but our thanks go out to Ray and Alison for not only organising a marvellously varied and interesting holiday but also arranging wall to wall sunshine nearly! Z Sleep Steve Allott This poem was originally written for a friend who could not sleep and then embellished with my own personal memories from the City of
Culture 2017, where I was born and lived for 18 or more years before moving to the South in the late 1970s. My father died in 2015 after a long illness and he always told me to write it down so verse 4 was added in his memory. The format is intentional and intended to resemble a series of Z Z Z Z Z s. My home town boasts a place called simply The Deep. Shall I go there just one more time to help me sleep? It s cold outside, it s Hull, what could you expect? Does culture warm you? Maybe, time will tell. When you slow down, when you relax When you take a long hot bath When you pay off all the tax Perhaps one day, maybe Instead of a tiny weep You might just Fall off to Sleep. I moved away, my friends are new, they sleep soundly In pastures green, my family: they now surround me It s nice and warm yet we all worry for the water A national park, relaxing, takes our breath The countryside clamours for attention So we walk in our wellies every week And pick the flowers with due care Not the bluebells, don t you dare! Count the sheep and sleep In Sussex by the Sea It just might Work. The kids they move away and then come back We worry did they all follow the right track We ll retire soon, since our job is done Enjoy good times together, wife and I On the voicemail sings a message Check your email but the phone Calls back to drive us crazy Our parents did not have To rush and check Their in-box They just Page 8 of 12
Dozed. Hull draw with Man United, now that s not bad We saw City beat them when I was a lad My Dad enjoyed supporting our team And one day was a second away From a Golden Goal prize We remember him fondly We are City till we die And that s no lie Memories that Will help me To sleep Maybe. My new Southern roots we all take for granted A crowded world is where they are planted I ll always remember those early years On Hessle Road and Orchard Park Wonder where my school friends Are living now, stayed in Hull? From time to time I ll return To remember and to learn About myself, the past When understood Sends me off to Zzzzzzzzzzz. A sonnet for the Forest Steve Allott Written on the coach journey home after a wonderfully sunny and exhausting action packed weekend in the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean. Age is just a number as we climb to the top. Wye this river walk is so long, muscles will ache but as Symonds Yat beckons, there s no time to stop Best have some lunch first, Steve s baked us a cake. We cross Biblins Bridge from England to Wales and marvel at the abbey in Tintern, those monks might get a bargain at the Cotswold shop sales. The river is inviting but we didn t bring our trunks. Now William is Poplar, he sells all his walks with knowledge so vast of birds, ferns and trees Page 9 of 12
always smiling and jolly, he gives really good talks. The hills are alive but quite tough on the knees. Thanks Ray and Alison, your walkers are keen Mid-Sussex Ramblers in the Forest of Dean. A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WALK LEADER Ray and Alison Heath As walk leaders for the MSR we are always looking for new routes and different car parks to start walks from, but on a misty day last February we found a walk from a Guildford magazine and set out on a walk for ourselves. The description was promising, in an area we had not walked before, and there was intrigue in the walk description turn right here for something a bit quirky! it said. Well, we got to that point, turned right and found the Blackdown Distillery, previously known as the Lurgashall Winery. Ah, we thought, perhaps this might make it a worthwhile trip for some of our MSR members! Fast forward to 03 June and we set off on a 70 minute car journey to Lurgashall, not knowing if anybody would actually come on our walk. As we approached Petworth, we got a frantic telephone call on the mobile from a lady who was asking for help to find the walk location. We managed to meet her and lead her in her car to the start point, down a narrow country lane to Lurgashall village near the borders of West Sussex and Surrey. Then we saw the signs! It was the day of the annual Lurgashall Village Fete. Where would we park the cars, we thought? No worries, as they had just opened a large grassy field, Jubilee Field, especially for us (and the many other people coming to the fete later that day). Our walk went without a hitch, and we were nine in number. The weather was glorious, sunny and warm but not hot. We all enjoyed our picnic in a grassy field, and later our wine tasting at Blackdown Distillery. When we returned to Lurgashall village the fete was in full swing so we Page 10 of 12
joined in and sampled ice creams, cups of tea and lovely homemade cakes. There was also a miniature train ride, tombola and a very competent music group playing. The MSR even got recognition over the tannoy! What could have been a failure turned out to be a great day! GROUP WEBSITE AND PUBLICITY Tony Osmand Some MSR personnel helped me recently with the following MSR / Ramblers displays: - Spring Garden and Leisure Show S of E Showground Sunday 30 April & Monday 01 May. - Lindfield Village Day Lindfield Common Saturday 03 June. - Wild about Mid Sussex 2015 Burgess Hill St John s Park Saturday 03 June. The shows received a number of fairly interested people / potential new members! (34, 35 and 21 respectively). Only time will tell. Many thanks to all those who helped with these displays. The MSR Group website www.midsussexramblers.co.uk is still very popular. The website is a good way to see what the Group is up to, including the photos taken on many of our walks, as well as our current Programme and Newsletter. If you have not done so already, do visit the website and enjoy it on a regular basis. Email addresses We have email addresses for more than half of our members, so that we can keep you informed easily, and often at short notice, about additional activities, changes in walk details, etc. If you have an email address, which we do not already have (i.e. you do not yet receive regular bulletins etc. in this way) and you would like to receive Group information via email, please let us have your email address soon. You are assured that this will not be passed on to anyone else and will not appear on any emails sent to other Group members. Please email to: publicity@midsussexramblers.co.uk or you can use the Contact page Page 11 of 12
on the website. Similarly if you change your email address, please can you let us know so that we can keep you up to date? West Hoathly Church Gravetye Manor We ve made it! But he didn t say it was that steep!! The Shorter Walk, Symonds Yat Page 12 of 12