§ PENRITH GROUP NEWSLETTER Issue 61 - November 2016

Affiliated to HF Holidays

CONTACT USPlease contact me if you have any input to share with the rest of the world. harryupton999@btinternet.com Telephone numbers of our Chairman, Secretary, Membership Secretary and Newsletter Editor are shown at the bottom of this Newsletter. Alternatively please refer to the website for general information. www.penrithramblers.org.uk

WALKS AND PROGRAMMEThe January to April 2017 programme of walks should be included with this Newsletter, either posted or e-mailed. It has also been input onto the website. Changes to this programme will be flagged up on our Website when they occur. Walks provided as A, B+, B, B/C, C and Strollers should be appropriate to the standard criteria with a description of route and terrain etc.

All members on walks are advised to carry their own “emergency contact details” and a personal “first aid kit”. General advice is that leaders and walking colleagues will not be obliged to provide or use any other kit. Back markers particularly, but all walkers, should possess and carry a whistle as a signalling device.

Eden Strollers (Shorter Walks) - The Strollers programme of walks, January to April 2017, is now available and should now be included on the website. The leader situation has improved with more of the Group offering to lead a walk. If you are prepared to give up one of your usual Wednesday walks to support this programme please contact the co-ordinator Janet Upton (017684 80191), janetupton50@gmail.com for further information.Janet Upton asked in committee where they felt the Strollers group stood in relation to the Penrith Ramblers group. It was agreed that from next January the Strollers group should be incorporated more formally into Ramblers. This will mean that walkers who have been out with Strollers for three walks will be considered as regular walkers with the group and required to join Ramblers.

Eden Wheel - The final five walks (year 4), numbers 14 to 18, completing the circuit will take place in June / July 2017. Pre-book all walks with Graham Allan – 01768 890390 who can also supply the walk brochure.

Recording Details of Walks and Weather from January 2017 - It was decided at the recent committee meeting that each walk leader should record the number of people and the weather conditions on their walks starting from January 2017. These details should be sent to the respective walks Coordinator as soon as possible after the walk. The coordinators would keep a note of these statistics, together with the walk date and name of each leader, and send a list of all this to the secretary just before the next committee meeting. This information would provide some statistics for consideration at the next meeting.

Start point of walks (re AGM query) - It was agreed at Committee that we would not publish a grid reference for parking at the beginning of a walk on the website, but that it was fine for a walk leader to include a general starting area for the walk on the website as part of the walk title description. It was felt to be appropriate for any walker wishing to meet up at the start point of a walk, rather than the Rugby Club Car Park, to contact the walk leader in advance for precise starting point information.

Walks Coordinators meeting - It was generally agreed at Committee that it was better to discuss walks issues at a full committee meeting. It was also regretted that the C walks coordinator was unable to attend any Committee meetings. Mike Eden would be contacted to ensure that the C group send a representative to future meetings.

WEBSITECalling all potential website ‘Wonders’ - Our Group is looking for a volunteer, know-how-savvy website data manipulator to co-ordinate the daily activities of our Website and establish further development through liaison with the Website Master who was responsible for ‘building’ it. If you are interested, or know someone who might be, then contact our Secretary.

National Website - Our Secretary reported a series of emails from HQ, offering help with our group’s web page on the Ramblers website. Graham Allan had replied saying we would get back at a later date.

RAMBLERS HEAD OFFICEA reminder that on the Ramblers HO website - http://www.ramblers.org.uk/membershipenquiries there is a “contact us” page showing questions, answers and frequently asked questions. There is also the Members area in which, once registered, you will be able to update/amend your personal details as well as gain access to the library of Ramblers Routes. The Big Pathwatch - Last year 3,000 people walking and surveying paths across England and Wales reported what they found. The report of findings has been in the news together with a new Pathwatch campaign. The scale of the challenge now is to repair and maintain all 140,000 miles of rights of way and walkers and appropriate authorities are being asked to pledge support. Read about the state of our paths in The Big Pathwatch report

SOCIAL

There are now 40 people booked for the Christmas Lunch at the North Lakes Hotel.

There are 25 people booked for the holiday in Church Stretton in April.

Social Events Survey - Jean and Kathy have decided that it is a good time to take stock and ask members for their views about the social calendar before introducing any changes. All members have either received an electronic version of the Questionnaire or will find a hard copy with this posting. You are asked to respond as required by Friday 9th December 2016. The Questionnaire was circulated by email and paper copies distributed at the AGM. Printed copies are available on request.

Guest Speaker at the A.G.M. - Berghaus stalwart Jon Gale, now retired, gave an enlightening talk prior to the AGM entitled “Goretex and other waterproof fabrics, 1977 - 2016”. The gathering commented that it was most interesting. It seemed that some members were still wearing garments similar to the early years ones that he provided samples of. GROUP FUNDSIt was decided in committee that money from the previous book sales would be needed for printing the next book, on the Eden Wheel, which Graham Allan is in the process of writing, and extra money should be earmarked to fund a navigation and a walk leader course.

FOOTPATHS

Orders - Cross Croft, Appleby. Two orders made by Eden DC. One is as agreed, but for the the other we have lodged an objection. The order would close the railway crossing, next to a housing development. The SoS has arranged a public inquiry for the 29th November. Network Rail will be presenting the case for the order. Eden DC are taking a neutral position. We will be maintaining our objection, along with two other objectors.The path is reopened in September having been closed for about a year under a temporary order made by Cumbria CC. New consultations Blakebeck Farm, Mungrisdale. Small change to avoid new barn.Mosedale and Carrhead ford, Mungrisdale parish. Claimed bridleway or restricted byway. Lake District National ParkIn November we will be surveying twelve paths for the national park’s ease-of-use surveys.

National Park ExtensionsOn 1st August the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales national parks were extended. We expect that the national parks will take over responsibility for most rights of way, but Cumbria CC have not formally agreed yet. The Cumbria Local Access Forum will cease to cover the area going into the Yorkshire Dales National Park, so a result the Cumbria and Lake District LAFs are merging.

Warcop Range Access DatesAt a meeting of the Warcop Access Working Group in July, the Range Training and Safety Officer again expressed concern about two footpaths that go through the Impact Area. He would like to see them diverted, and we can expect to receive proposals soon

The list below gives the scheduled access days, which are those required by the public inquiry undertakings, and are guaranteed except in case of an emergency. These dates should be on the MoD website. A second list is of additional access days, which are likely dates but not guaranteed, is available. Intending users should call the freephone information line one week prior to access. Alan Duval is happy to advise on any aspect of access to this area.

ACCESS DAYS ON SCHEDULED ACCESS DAYS 2017 (Subject only to urgent pre-operational training requirements)1 January 2017 7 & 8 JANUARY 2017 4 & 5 FEBRUARY 2017 4 & 5 MARCH 2017 15 & 16 APRIL 201729 & 30 APRIL 2017 27 & 28 MAY 2017 1 & 2 JULY 2017 8 & 9 JULY 2017 5 & 6 AUGUST 201726 & 27 AUGUST 2017 7 & 8 OCTOBER 2017 4 & 5 NOVEMBER 2017 23 – 31 DECEMBER 2017For further information on weekly public access opportunities on Warcop please call the Freephone Information Line 0800 7835 181

COUNTRYSIDEVery little activity since last report. Monitored planning applications and have passed one for a new track 1 km from Pennine Way to Alan Duval for comment and possible action. Also looked at the Nugen Moorside Nuclear power station in West Cumberland. Not in our area but significant interest to Ramblers . AREA COUNCIL - Not used

TRAININGA repeat of the successful course for potential walk leaders has been scheduled for 22nd March 2017

MEMBERSHIPThe membership of Penrith Group is approximately 350. The number of members receiving correspondence by email continues to increase because most new members give an email address and many of those who have left did not have one. We know that several members do have such addresses but we do not have them on our records.

E-mail Addresses

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Our group Treasurer reports that, despite continuing improvement, postage cost of mailing is still high and each member is urged to provide their e-mail address for use by the Membership Secretary. To do so simply send an e-mail message, stating ‘please add my name to your e-mail contact list’, to daviddixon1939@gmail.com. The mailing ensures that no-one else is privy to your e-mail details

Strollers MembershipsSee the note under Strollers regarding new requirement for them to join Ramblers.

GROUP OFFICERS and COMMITTEE 2016/17The full list of Officers and Committee are available in the ‘Contact Us’ section of Penrith Ramblers Website.

FUTURE DIARY DATESChristmas meal at North Lakes Hotel on Friday 9th December 2016Committee meetings in 2017 on Thursday 16th March, Friday 14th July and Thursday 9th November.HF led walking at Church Stretton on 3rd to 7th April 2017.AGM on Friday 27th October 2017.

Chairman: Graham Allan (01768 890390)Secretary: Sue Marshall (01768 897159)Membership Secretary: David Dixon (01768 863155) A REMINDER OF GO OUTDOORS COMMUNITY DISCOUNTAll Penrith Ramblers Members can take advantage of a community offer from the store 'Go Outdoors'. Just take your Ramblers membership card and get the 10% discount. If you already have a 'Go Outdoors' Card you will receive both discounts subject to the following restriction. "There are terms and conditions in the small print, eg not off WOW deals or SALE items or MULTIBUYS, and proof of Ramblers membership must be shown to receive the discount."

SOME APT QUOTATIONS

Thanks to member Mary Teasdale for pointing out the following words of wisdom as a reminder to those walkers and leaders who charge around the fells. “Commonly we stride through the out-of-doors too swiftly to see more than the most obvious and prominent things. For observing nature, the best pace is a snail’s pace.” Edwin Way Teale (1899 – 1980)

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, Wow. What a ride!” Anonymous (Ed)

ENGLISH IS A FUNNY LANGUAGEHad a little chuckle at the following requests for books in a bookshop (just a selection from a long list)

‘Satanic Nurses’ by Salman Rushdie ‘Tess of the Dormobiles’ by Thomas Hardy‘Less Miserable’ ‘She Stoops to Conga’ by Oliver GoldsmithJames Joyce’s ‘Useless’ ‘Death in Denial’ by Agatha Christie‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Hound’ by Mark Twain ‘Harry Potter and the Chamberpot Secret’ by JK Rowling

And a few intentional faux pasQuestion; What is Baden-Powell connected with? Answer; A hyphenQuestion; What is the capital of Spain? Answer; The letter SQuestion; What is the opposite of woe? Answer; Giddy upQuestion; What advice would you give to someone handling dangerous chemicals? Answer; Be very, very careful

And a fillip for those who can’t spell and need to use ‘spill chucker’ on their computers

Aoccdring to rseerach at an Elingsh uinwevtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in what order the ltteers in a word are pclaed, the olny iprmoatntthing is that the frist and lsat ltteer is in the rghit pclae. The rsetcan be a taotl mses and yiou can still raed it wouthit porbelms.This is bcuseae we do nit raed ervey lteter by itelsf but the wordas a wlohe.

Penrith Rambler Hill Baggers

Some members of the Penrith A group featured in the Autumn edition of the Ramblers Walk magazine in the article “Meet the Hill Baggers”.The Wainwrights are very popular being the 214 Lakeland hills listed in his 7 pictorial guides and “collected” or “bagged” by many Penrith Ramblers. But the Penrith A group go further afield and in July this year 8 members went to Sutherland for a week and joined Denis Mitchell “bagging” his last Munro (number 282) on Ben Hope. He is the 5th member of the Penrith A group to complete all the Munros and below is a photo showing Denis with Tony Deall, Ian Lauriston and Helen and Neil Beatham on top of Ben Hope who have all completed their munros on previous occasions. Other members of the Penrith A group including Pat Evans, Margaret Lightburn, Shaun Williams, John Cantrell, John

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Whittaker and Janet Arnison are all enjoying regular trips to Scotland to “bag” Munros.

Penrith Ramblers Children in Needers

Some of the Penrith group took part in the Countryfile Weekend Rambles for Children In Need on 8 th and 9th October. As part of our scheduled Saturday walk on October 8th, Helvellyn via Swirral Edge, two of the group were sponsored by members from that group and others and raised £285 in total.

Penrith Rambler Ladies Ullswater Rounders

The following day an intrepid group of 8 ladies from the B+ group, led by Janet Upton,our Strollers coordinator and ably supported by her husband Harry, did the newly inaugurated 20 mile Ullswater Way. Janet and another member raised £815 sponsorship money for this event, so a grand total of £1100 was raised. A special thanks is due to Janet for the delicious sustaining cakes she baked for us, and to Harry for driving to the various rendez-vous points so that we could eat them.

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Above – Early morning start at Aira Force car park apprehensive about the next 20 miles.Below – remarkably good spirits ending up at Aira Force again after 8 hours walking plus 1½ hours accumulative snacking

Sheila, Sue, Janet, Heather, Moira, Wendy, Sue, Allison

Two shots of the Strollers walk taken on19th October during the figure of eight loop between Mirehouse and Scarness adjacent to Bassenthwaite ……..

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……….. and the locals didn’t seem the least bit interested!

Newsletter Editor: Harry Upton (017684 80191)

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