walkerS O U T H E A S T No. 110 June 2020

All Ramblers group walks were suspended from 18 March to protect the health

of members, volunteers and staff and help suppress the spread of the Covid-19 virus. To check the latest position go to www.ramblers.org.uk/coronavirus. This site is updated frequently and will provide the latest information on when a full programme of group walks can resume.

#RoamSweetHome, launched by

the Ramblers in early April, has also helped inspire and connect everyone who loves walking and the outdoors. In the meantime, if in the course of your daily permitted and socially-distancing exercise you come across a path which you believe has been blocked illegally or restrictions put in place unlawfully, do please report this to your local authority.

Whilst the lockdown has put a stop to group walks, the behind-the-scenes work of our local

footpath workers has continued and many group officers have made use of the time to catch up with the many administrative tasks that come with their roles. You will find reports from many of our enthusiastic volunteers in this issue.

Ramblers in lockdown

Think positive: Make the most of those unused walking boots. Photo: Sue EllenbyThink positive: Send your cat on a walk instead. Photo: Sue Ellenby

More than 30 members of the Metropolitan Walkers gathered

on 6 February to mark this year's Time to Talk Day with an evening of board games and conversation.

Our aim was to create a relaxed environment, providing everyone with a chance to get to know each other. We believe it also offered an opportunity to showcase the best of our community and promote walking as a positive influence on mental health.

Walking and mental health are two areas I have always wanted to link and Time to Talk Day provided a brilliant opportunity for this. When the day was first mentioned at a committee meeting I was quick to start bouncing ideas around with our Social Secretary and Publicity Officer.

Speaking to various members before the event it became clear that many saw the group as an escape from the pressures of daily life. One said the group has

"provided me with an escape from the stresses and pressures of daily life. Going on a walk at weekends is like going on a mini revitalising holiday that gives me the strength and resilience to face the week ahead. It has provided me with a respite from the debilitating effects of loneliness by providing a sense of belonging to a tribe."

It saddens me that 6,507 people in the UK took their own lives in 2018. That's roughly three times the number of fatalities from road accidents each year. Living in London with its long working hours and busy schedules, it can be easy to neglect our mental health. As a volunteer in the mental health sector for the past ten years, I've seen a variety of issues which people face every day leading to poor mental health, from unemployment and debt to self-image and relationship problems.

Mental health is still far more

stigmatised than physical health, whether it's in the workplace or amongst family and friends, and people are often afraid to talk about it. Time to Talk Day provided us with a chance to be more open and have conversations about mental health.

For many members, the Metropolitan Walkers group provides an escape from the pressures of daily life, a chance to visit the countryside, enjoy trips abroad and enjoy the occasional social gathering. Most importantly, it provides an opportunity to be part of a community.

Isao AyugaseMetropolitan Walkers

Time to Talk Day is an initiative of Time to Change which is led by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. Metropolitan Walkers is the London-based Ramblers group for people in their 20s and 30s.

Time to talk

An informal evening of board games and conversation. Photo: Isao Ayugase

Croydon Ramblers test one of the park benches donated in 2010 in Lloyd Park. Photo: Alan Harding

From little acorns do oak trees grow! Who would have thought that a

meeting on 14 March 1950 in Sanderstead to set up a local Ramblers' Association group for the Croydon area (the very first local group of the Ramblers) would end up as the active organisation we have now?

The successful gathering led to a first meeting of the pioneering activists on Tuesday 24 April 1950 in Croydon with the intention of surveying local footpaths and perhaps doing the occasional walk. From the outset, there were monthly social meetings with perhaps an evening stroll. In

September 1950, the group held its first 'Grand Social' - admission one shilling (5p)! The first real ramble took place on Sunday 16 September 1951 with the North West London Group of the Ramblers (formed in May 1951) and the Venturers' Rambling Club. The walk started at Forest Row in East Sussex, the group travelling there by train with reserved seats, no less!

It appears that for several years the group was more of a social club, visiting a telephone exchange, fire station and a brewery - sounds good to me! It seems hard to

Happy 70th birthday Croydon Ramblers!

Continued on page 9

2 South East Walker June 2020

It's a hot Easter Sunday afternoon as I'm sitting indoors, in front of a

computer, writing this. The sort of weather I'd describe if I was asked about my ideal long weekend. Normally I'd be out walking along the coast somewhere or beside the Thames or - well, you get the picture. In my shorts and sunglasses with plenty of SPF50 slapped on my bare arms, legs and face.

Instead, any trip outside the front door whether for essential shopping or government-sanctioned exercise is a challenge as we try to modify an awkward version of the dance macabre we've all adapted to be able to safely social distance in the outdoors.

At the same time, we have organisations who now spend all their time and resources understandably discouraging people from leaving their homes to help stop the spread of coronavirus and protect our NHS.

These are often the same organisations whose major mission is to promote leisure use of city, town and countryside. And I have to say from where I'm sitting I think they are mostly doing a marvellous job in very trying and scary circumstances.

Our very own Ramblers GB, under the hashtag #RoamSweetHome has consistently emphasised exercising within the government guidelines. At the same time, it has had to take the extremely painful decision of suspending our amazingly successful group walks programmes, revise the business strategy and furlough about a third of its staff.

Here in London the Royal Parks became the poster child for overcrowding and plastered all over television, radio, newspapers and social media platforms as the country started to demonise cyclists, sunbathers and picnickers. In truth, it would have been easier for them to try and close their parks, as some London boroughs did. Indeed they worked extremely hard in a thankless situation to try and find some accommodation that allowed the parks to stay open. Where they could they shut the parks to cars and gave the car parks over to key workers/NHS staff, instituted a No Cycling policy (except for key workers/NHS staff ) and re-deployed their own staff to emphasise the social distancing regulations. So that's a big 'hats-off' to all Royal Parks and a plea for them to consider a ban on motorised traffic in Richmond Park going forward.

The Thames Path national trail, more than 180 miles of route with just one trail manager, resorted to social media to cajole and plead with walkers and riders to avoid congested areas along parts of the route that it was impossible to practice social-distancing on. In some places, they resorted to hi-vis wearing marshals asking folk not to jog or cycle.

The Canal and River Trust, who possibly have a harder challenge to avoid congestion, took a similar approach. Transport for London kept at it and made sure walkers knew that the Capital Ring and London Loop were still open and ready to use.

We certainly know, just anecdotally, that the number of people walking in London has increased dramatically, and our challenge will be to keep as many of them continuing to do so and, hopefully, join the Ramblers.

With 'lockdown' regulations looking set to continue in their current guise for some time, and no hint of what the world will look like afterwards, perhaps we could hope Transport for London put into action more plans to close roads to traffic, or make some routes one way, or examine how quiet ways might be made over to just walking and cycling. And perhaps the Ramblers in London could join or convene a meeting of all the stakeholders in the capital interested in active travel to find out exactly what we all want in this brave new world that will eventually emerge.

Des Garrahan

And then things got seriously weird ...

Capital Ring guidebook goes into eighth edition

More on Kent's named walks project

Richmond Park. Photo: Des Garrahan

Over 20,000 copies of the Capital Ring guidebook have been

sold, and by a conservative estimate well over 100,000 people have completed the route, making this one of the most popular walking routes in southern England. A new edition (its eighth), published by Aurum Press, was due to be published in June but may be delayed as a result of the coronavirus lockdown. It includes no fewer than nine new optional alternative routes which are (in sequential clockwise order):

- In Charlton, a new cycleway, shared with walkers, opened to the public last year between Woolwich Dockyard Promenade and the Thames Barrier, taking both the Capital Ring and Thames Path closer to the river and off tedious Woolwich Road. A long ramp at the west end of the promenade leads to Warspite Road, Bowater Road and Unity Way, close to the Barrier's information centre and cafe. The Ring then joins a branch of the Green Chain Walk through Barrier Gardens and across Woolwich Road to rejoin the original route into Maryon Park. It's hoped that, eventually, it will be possible for the route to go beside the river all the way to the Barrier, but there will be many years of development before that can happen.• In Beckenham Place Park, the

lake that had been filled in for the benefit of a now-abandoned golf course has been restored, and Ring walkers can follow a shorter, level route on firm paths beside it. The pleasant original but longer route through woodland, leading to the link with Ravensbourne station, can still be taken if preferred, but includes a steep section with steps, and can get very muddy in places.

• At Isleworth, a riverside path on the site of Nazareth House convent has opened to the public, allowing Capital Ring and Thames Path walkers to avoid busy Richmond Road.

• In Hanwell's Brent Lodge Park, the official. serpentine route on the grass beside the River Brent can be delightful, but in winter and after heavy rain, can get very wet and muddy, so the book describes a footpath alternative that leads past the cafe, toilets, children's zoo and St Mary's church.

• At Kingsbury, a route along a footpath through the churchyard and nature reserve of Old St Andrew's church (a

Grade 1 listed building) offers a quieter and greener alternative to busy Church Lane.

• In Hendon, the little footbridge that provided a short cut from Brent Street into Brent Park had to be closed in 2016 when it was declared unsafe. Now, a smart new footbridge has replaced it, so Ring walkers no longer need to suffer the North Circular - Britain's noisiest road.

• At Stoke Newington's East Reservoir, the book draws attention to an alternative route through the Woodberry Wetlands nature reserve, passing its visitor centre and cafe.

• The Greenway near Pudding Mill Lane station has reopened to Stratford High Street, avoiding the long diversion via Marshgate Lane. The book also describes a link here with the ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

• At Gallions Reach, the recently opened Royal Wharf development provides a delightful and interesting link beside the Royal Albert Dock to the Gallions Marina Entrance Lock, avoiding a bleak, longer route following roads and an intimidating, overgrown riverside path.

At the time of writing, although fully walkable, none of these alternatives had been formally approved and signed by the respective boroughs, so for the present, they are described as 'unsigned optional alternatives'. The original signed route can still be followed by those who feel they ought to stick to them in order to claim their certificate!

Colin Saunders

The Capital Ring is published by Aurum (ISBN 978-0-7112-5821-1, £14.99, and can be obtained in good bookshops like Stanfords and from Amazon).

The purpose of our project is to improve the condition and waymarking of Kent's

many named walks and produce new printed guides for as many as possible. Profits from the guides, over £6,000 so far, help to fund improvement work.

WealdwayWork to replace the tunnel under the A21 near Tonbridge was completed in mid-February and the road reopened immediately. There were further delays in reopening the tunnel to walkers but we understand that it is now open. Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk and Walks through TimeWork continues on a new guide to these walks but some of the serious problems with footpath obstructions and unsatisfactory waymarking remain to be resolved. It is proving very difficult to get work done where volunteers cannot be used and contractors have to be engaged by Kent County Council, even when we offer to pay the costs out of the profits from selling our guides. The problem appears to be a shortage of available contractors and a backlog of work that can only be made worse by the current emergency. On the positive side, our own volunteers have done a fantastic job of refreshing the waymarking of all the routes to be included in the guide, leaving only missing waymark posts to be dealt with.

Saxon Shore WayWork is well underway to produce a new guide to this walk whose page on our website attracts more visits than any other route page. The route is 150 miles long, making the task a challenging one. However, three volunteers have been or still are separately walking the route and testing draft material sent to them - their feedback has been invaluable. However, we still need to walk the full route ourselves and take the thousands of photographs that will be needed to ensure sufficient good ones for publication. This activity is obviously suspended while travel restrictions are in place.

Coast PathOur guide to the first part of the Coast Path in Kent, from Camber to Ramsgate, was published in 2016 and has sold well. We have always planned a second book (or maybe even two more books) covering the rest of the Kent coast but we have long been awaiting completion of the route to enable us to do so. Natural England has now published its proposals for the full route including Sheppey but the determination of all disputes and completion of implementation work this year seems unlikely.

Robert PeelSecretary, Kent Ramblers

One of the obstructions on the 'Walk through Time' near Cranbrook. Photo: Robert Peel

The revived lake in Beckenham Place Park. Photo: Colin Saunders

South East Walker June 2020 3

walkerS O U T H E A S T

Distributed quarterly to members of the Ramblers in Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and West Middlesex, Essex, Inner London, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey Areas.

THE RAMBLERSAddress: 2nd Floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW.Switchboard: 020 3961 3300Membership Services: 020 3961 3232Email: ramblers@ramblers.org.ukWeb: www.ramblers.org.ukCompany registration no: 4458492Registered charity no: 1093577

EDITORIALEditor: Les DouglasEmail: southeastwalker@gmail.comTel: 020 8809 2338 (please leave message)

DESIGN AND PRINTMortons Print Ltd - 01507 529255

Opinions expressed by contributors are not specifically endorsed by The Ramblers.ISSN 1747-4140C 2020 The Ramblers. All rights reserved.

Copy Date: For issue No. 111 is 12 July.

Les Lamb, Chair of Fyfield Parish Council in Essex tells us what his parish

has achieved with the help of West Essex Ramblers. May other parishes follow his example!

Fyfield is a small parish of 352 homes and 750 people. We have two cracking pubs and even a village shop with a post office! As well as beautiful rolling countryside there is much of historical interest with both WW1 and WW2 airfields, ancient church, moated manor houses and woodlands.

I love a river and we have the tranquil River Roding which sparkles through the heart of Essex down to the Thames. We have 22 miles of footpaths and two important ones which kiss on the Tun Bridge over the river, the Essex Way and the Three Forests Way.

In 2017 our parish council started a project with the aim to improve and increase the use of our footpath network. We decided to find a volunteer to blame if the project didn't work out. I was slow in stepping back so that person turned out to be me! I had no idea how to start but Google was my friend and I discovered that Essex Highways run a Parish Paths Partnership (P3) scheme that helps volunteers to assess paths, report problems and improve footpaths for themselves.

I met with the leader of the P3 team and she was most helpful and supportive. She explained how it worked, insurance considerations, assessment and reporting of issues. She even provided some basic tools.

She said the first step was to assess all of the footpaths, so I spent an enjoyable few days walking over 22 miles with my dog. It was actually very rewarding having a purpose to walk out on footpaths I hadn't explored before. I noted the defects while my dog sniffed unmentionable things and pulled on his lead while I was trying to write. I noted many problems, mainly broken or missing waymarkers, damaged bridges, overgrown paths and crops where there should be clear field paths. I also fond by chatting to locals, putting articles in our parish magazine and Facebook page that other issues were reported to me that I hadn't noticed.

So I wrote up my assessment and then wondered what to do next. Although I had a couple of locals

willing to help I had no idea how to replace a broken bridge or the tools needed to do it. Also clearing the vegetation on some paths obviously needed a lot of manpower and more than a pair of B&Q shears!

I spoke with the P3 leader again and she pointed me to the West Essex Ramblers' working party led by Brian Smith. Brian invited me to join his crew to see how things were done. He told me that in Essex Ramblers the job I had taken on was known as a Parish Adopter.

Engaging with the Ramblers was the major breakthrough for our project and for three years now I have worked with the working party in many west Essex parishes. In that time the team has come to Fyfield on numerous occasions, sometimes twice a week, helping to resolve the issues.

Our Essex Highways public rights of way officer has also been extremely supportive and conducted his own 'Five-year rolling programme' survey of Fyfield. He agreed with all the defects I had noted and even added several more major pieces of work for us, such as the installation of six new bridges along the Essex Way. He always ensures the materials, such as bridge kits, are delivered to us on time. He also writes to some landowners reminding them to keep their cross-field paths clear.

I found one essential in all this was to keep good relations with the landowners. I probably go overboard when it comes to thanking them and publicising any good news when it

comes to landowners and footpaths. I figured that simply complaining about them would be counter-productive and get us all nowhere.

As a result of all this work, we have now installed 17 bridges, 32 waymarker posts and cleared miles of vegetation. The work has transformed our footpaths and three years on we are now in 'maintenance' mode with no major work left to do for years to come.

Now the footpaths are in good shape we have started to find ways to encourage folk to use them more. I set up a monthly village dog walk and we go explore places most locals never walk. We also host the Epping Forest Lifewalks programme and they hold monthly walks here

followed by tea and cake in our village hall. The scouts are now able to hold a 5km run for their charity each year which has become a major event in the village.

When I used to go for a walk in the wilds I would rarely see anyone. Now the paths are clear, bridges fixed and waymarkers in place it's a different story. I often meet locals out and about who say they now feel much more confident exploring further afield.

I am biased but it's hard to beat a walk in Fyfield along the Essex Way, crossing the River Roding and back via the Three Forests Way for a beer in the Black Bull or Queen's Head!

Les Lamb

Fyfield - making better use of our footpaths

Les Lamb addresses the Essex Ramblers AGM in February. Photo: Mike Cannell

This is one of three bridges which have opened up a rather inaccessible and lovely area of woodland in Fyfield. Photo: Scott Thompson

I grew up in a household where a Sunday afternoon walk meant walking local streets

and it's something that continued into my time as a student -albeit transported 175 miles from Bromley to a northern university city. In both locations we just walked, exploring local areas and finding points of interest.

So, it's no surprise that I've been doing a fair bit of pavement walking since we started the coronavirus lockdown, not anywhere special but just around the streets of Bromley. Her Majesty the Queen described Bromley as 'clean and green' and mostly it is, so we're much luckier than some people stuck in inner-city boroughs, with only the occasional park to explore. I'm lucky because, where I live, I can head out to Hayes or set off towards Beckenham or Shortlands, as well as heading into Bromley itself. When I've been out, I reckon I've covered four or five miles on most trips - too much hard surface walking for some, but it just goes to show it can be done. I decided early in the present crisis that I needed some guidelines and these are the ones I've adopted:

Never repeat the same route(Obviously, since I can't fly or climb other people's fences the bits closest to home tend to be the same but I try to explore roads I don't know or walk in areas I haven't been to). I don't take a map - but then I've lived

in Bromley all my 60-odd years and know quite a few roads. Also, the new development at Bromley South and one or two other tall buildings in central Bromley are visible from afar and an aid to navigation if all else fails. There are also road signs. I don't plan either, I simply let my trainers carry me along, deciding where to go only when I reach a junction - and try to take the road less travelled. Pay attention!The trouble with a lot of our walking from A to B is that we zone out. I walked from home to the station for 35 years and most days I couldn't tell you how I got there. Walking on your own with no chatter to distract you, there's no excuse for not looking at what's in front of you. There are gardens full of flowers, beautiful trees, birds singing, rainbows in windows, wildlife in the form of squirrels and foxes, interesting houses and occasional extra features like war memorials and water towers to inspect.

Inspired by a road in Shortlands where the residents had posted notices listing (and picturing) what they had seen on their daily walks in their front gardens for local children, I try to remember one lovely thing I've seen on each day's walk - it might be a child's chalk pavement drawing in support of the NHS or a tree in full blossom buzzing with bees.

Of course, I'm looking forward to our regular programme of walks resuming but, in the meantime, the weather is great, there's a lot of green to be seen (even away from busy parks), walking the pavements is free and it's good for body and soul!

Linda HarlandBromley Ramblers

Pavement plodding

Ring and Loop guardians put on hold

Our Capital Ring and London Loop footpath guardians'

scheme has been in hiatus since the lockdown started in late March, around the time we had scheduled a meeting to bring all of the volunteers on the project together to assess progress, consider next steps and to hear from others running similar projects. We will reschedule as soon as circumstances permit.

Since our last update, we have gathered spare waymark discs from former Capital Ring rangers under the old Transport for London (TfL) scheme. TfL had also located some discs, mainly for the London Loop, which were handed over to us by Will Norman, the Walking and Cycling Commissioner. Thanks to everyone who has, or who will be, providing discs - we will make sure we put these to good use as soon as we are able, and when we have permission from the relevant council or landowner to replace damaged and missing discs.

We are continuing to work towards getting updated PDFs onto the TfL website, to replace the existing ones which have become very out of date. This has included meeting with members of the TfL team who are working with their in-house designers on the project using our updated text. The initial focus is on the London Loop, with the Capital Ring updated PDFs to follow once all the London Loop ones have been updated.

All sections of the London Loop are now available on the Go Jauntly app, alongside the Capital Ring, thanks to our volunteer Andrew Hunt. Go Jauntly's publicity for the launch of the London Loop on their app credits the work done by The Ramblers.

We are grateful to everybody involved for what they're doing to improve these two much-loved routes and hope to be able to recommence the project in earnest in the not too distant future.Clare WaddChair, Inner London Area

Ramblers volunteers Jo Cuttell and Jackie Gower receive more waymark discs from Walking & Cycling Commissioner Will Norman.

4 South East Walker June 2020

News from Bucks, Milton Keynes and West Middlesex

BUCKSbriefs

At an Area committee meeting in November last year, Chairman, Paul Rhodes, suggested that, for the AGM, each group

nominated a person for Area Volunteer of the Year. Our group was very pleased to nominate Peter Hooper and, given that the Area has over 2,000 members and there were several other candidates, we were delighted when Peter won.

Peter started walking with our group over 10 years ago. He soon took over as Wednesday walks coordinator, encouraging new leaders and ensuring that there was a walk every Wednesday for over eight years. Two years ago, he stepped down from this role but did not step away, becoming Membership Secretary. In addition to the tasks this role entails he set about updating our antiquated website. With experience from his former life in IT, along with his enthusiasm and dedication which knows no bounds, he spent over 100 hours refreshing and renewing the website which is now welcoming and informative, attracting 24 new members. His prize was a voucher to use in an outdoor shop.

Kate LambourneSecretary,

Amersham Ramblers

Like other g roups , understandably, we had to cancel our walks

programme and with it a 10-day break on another section of the Wales Coast Path and a day coach trip but we hope to reschedule these for later in the year. We were also about to support the Milton Keynes Walking Festival but that was also off of course.

The lockdown, however, has reminded us of the walking opportunities we have locally and

why Milton Keynes was voted third in the awards for Britain's Best Walking Neighborhood last year. Our members are able to enjoy the many parks, lakes and extensive path network whilst still able to follow social distancing guidelines. Some of us also live close to the surrounding parishes and can still check the state of their paths. Our AGM is currently planned for 12 November.

Ian DunfordMilton Keynes & District Ramblers

Peter Hooper, Area Volunteer of the Year. Photo: Jill Hooper

The Annual General Meeting of Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and West

Middlesex Area was held on Saturday 1 February in Great Missenden, with 32 members in attendance: around 1.4% of our membership.

We offered a choice of three different walks in the morning, of nine, six and four miles respectively, attracting a total of 47 walkers, roughly equally split between the three. This was the first time we had offered more than a single walk, and the numbers suggest it will be an experiment worth repeating.

Another innovation this year was an Area Volunteer of the Year Award. Five candidates had been nominated by the Area's groups and after a ballot, Peter Hooper of Amersham and District Group was declared to be the winner.

We remain short of officers. In particular, as well as being Area Treasurer I continue to act, additionally, as Secretary and would welcome a volunteer to take over this role. All existing officers were re-elected, but opportunities exist for others to become involved: if you are interested in helping to run the Area please contact me at johnandjean@thamesinternet.com to discuss possibilities.

By invitation, Terry Pollard of Oxfordshire Area addressed the meeting on his Area's opposition

to the proposed Oxford - Cambridge Expressway and associated housing development, which could also impact countryside and public paths in northern Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

After a break for refreshments, we welcomed as speaker Ramblers' trustee Sophie Clissold-Lesser, who explained the role of trustees and stressed the need to be forward-looking, with particular reference to the Don't Lose Your Way campaign and the future of health walks. Membership growth remained a priority, with the need for a full spread of ages; research was being undertaken on membership loyalty and non-members' reasons for not joining. Another priority was to future-proof IT systems; errors were inevitable, but lessons would be learned to avoid repeating them. As a matter of local interest, she mentioned recent Ramblers collaboration with other organisations on the environmental impact of HS2. Sophie answered questions on a variety of topics, including the recent resignation of the Chief Executive; walk leader training and recognition; the value of Areas as part of the Ramblers' hierarchy; and Ramblers' lack of family orientation by comparison with other organisations.

John EsslemontActing Area Secretary

Area AGM

Area Volunteer of the Year

Julia DrummondIn lockdownIn February, we lost one of

the loveliest people you could wish to meet. Julia

was a regular walk leader, a great member of our group for over 20 years and a hard-working committee member for most of them, often hosting meetings in her home.

She was a very adventurous walker, preferring the longer, more strenuous rambles and often taking herself off on walking holidays in the wilder parts of the country. She also preferred stiles to gates, something not so common these days! In addition to leading long walks, her speciality and much-loved Solstice walks were very well

attended, not just because of the hot toddies and mince pies served to coincide with the winter sunset or drinks at the summer sundowners. She was a potter too with a kiln in her garden, a poet and a campaigner against HS2.

She initiated the summer holidays the group enjoys now, planning a week's worth of walks in a popular walking area with members arranging their own accommodation. Her first was to Norfolk in 2010, followed by a trip to Dorset in the following year. As Publicity Officer, she compiled and checked over our walks programme and distributed copies to local libraries. She wrote articles for

South East Walker, including a ditty about the etiquette of using walking poles at a time when few used them.

She vigorously opposed HS2, which she found particularly upsetting and mounted many campaigns against it, including making multi-coloured knitted patchwork scarves for the trunks of trees on the line of route. In recent years she turned her attention to the Ridgeway national trail with a project she called 'Ridgeway Rhymes', again using knitted tree scarves, but this time with a poem, 'Ivinghoe Hill', by George Upton Robins (1878-1915).

Julia contributed so much to life, and left her mark on the Chilterns and many of us,

Stephen PortmanAylesbury & District Ramblers

At Corfe Castle during the group's 2011 holiday in Dorset. Julia is third from the right. Photo: Dan SullivanSunset over Milton Keynes. Photo: Ian Dunford

South East Walker June 2020 5

BERKSHIREbites

Many of our walks earlier this year were spent like those last autumn,

slithering and squelching through ankle-deep mud whilst what can only be described as 'fording' footpaths and fields. One walk though included an interesting diversion to Littlecote, near Hungerford, the only fully-exposed 1st-century Roman villa in Britain, the main feature being a marvellous mosaic depicting Orpheus, the god of the underworld.

As the spring went on it became

obvious that some members were starting to suffer from an 'overload' of mud and rain with some returning to their childhoods on a walk which passed the totem pole at Bedwyn Brails. The temptation to hurdle over neatly-placed logs and dance around the pole proved too much for them though a later path knee-deep in mud did calm them down a little!

We held our annual 'thank you' for walk leaders in February with a superb 'all you can eat' lunch at the Robin Hood Toby Carvery where our Chairman, Steve Ormrod, gave

an excellent speech despite a certain amount of good-natured heckling. Little were we to know that the Covid-19 crisis was about to bring a temporary halt to our activities though the time since has been well spent redesigning and updating our website which now has a new photo gallery, revamped local walking page and additional details of committee members. A completely new inter-active walks calendar is also being trialled for walk leaders when normal service resumes.

Richard TrimmerWest Berkshire Ramblers

Walking with West Berks Enjoying a visit to Bedwyn Brails. Photo: Richard Trimmer

The mosaic at Littlecote Roman Villa. Photo: Richard Trimmer

This year's Urban Tree Festival: Celebrating Trees in London and

Beyond, was like so many other events, in a world attempting to limit the damage of coronavirus, held online. This was the third year of this fledgeling but flourishing event and the organisers are to be commended for their innovative approach to sticking to the principle that the show must go on.

For Inner London Ramblers, however, this very necessary approach meant that the traditional evening stroll I had planned to lead in the City of London on a late May evening had to be cancelled.

I know, both from the popularity of walks I have led with Paul Wood, aka @thestreettree, and how well he was received as the guest speaker at this year's Inner London Area AGM, how much many of you love your urban trees. Indeed, judging by the number of likes and retweets @thestreettree attracts, a great many Londoners adore their street trees.

We also know that there are few things a walker likes more than a map and Blue Crow Media has just published their Great Trees of London map which I presume was to coincide with the festival. One side is a standard map with 50 selected great trees highlighted, while the flip side carries photos and thumbnail descriptions from Paul of all the selected trees.

The map reveals highlights from London's uniquely diverse urban forest, featuring rare species, an ancient yew and flowering cherries.

As you would expect, it's printed on recycled paper and by a carbon-neutral printer and costs £8 plus postage from their website: https://bluecrowmedia.com/products/great-trees-of-londonmap.

Once the UK lockdown regulations are relaxed to enable group walks to go ahead I'll be leading my Urban Tree Festival City of London walk - better late than never - so check the Inner London Ramblers website https://innmerlondonramblers.org.uk/, social media platforms like twitter, @walkingclasshero, for details and hopefully I'll see you there.

Des Garrahan

Great Trees of London

October each year heralds the start of the Canterbury Festival,

a fortnight of music, drama, arts, history and entertainment. As an organisation keen to contribute to its community and wishing to raise the profile of our activities, Canterbury Group has been offering themed walks in the programme since 2008.

So our walks, all following public rights of way, have included a historically themed walk from the Church of St Martin (the oldest functional parish church in the country) to Fordwich (the smallest 'town' in the country); 'The Gateway to the Countryside' from Westgate (one of the city's largest gates) along by the Stour and over Bigbury Hill Fort (mentioned in Caesar's 'Gallic Wars'); 'The 35 (yes, 35!) Bridges of Canterbury'; 'Houses and Churches of Nailbourne' (a 'river' which disappears with some regularity); Jane Austen themed walks from Chilham via Godmersham Park (possibly the inspiration for Mansfield Park) and also Goodnestone (a favourite haunt of hers with its Serpentine walk), to name but a few!

In a city rich in history from pre-Roman times to the present day, with one of the earliest Christian communities in the country, the centre of pilgrimages in honour of Thomas Becket and the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primate of the Anglican church, there is a wealth of opportunity to create walks of interest. And all this is supported by a plethora of footpaths, enabling us to easily access these wonderful sites. Indeed, apart

from the cultural themes, we are always keen to raise awareness of the network of paths to encourage folk to take advantage of them. Notably, there are the walks including the 'Canterbury Rings', a project initiated and conducted by one of our members, David Reekie, to identify established footpaths and create coordinated circuits, featured in the March issue of South East Walker. Details can also be found at http://canterburyrings.info/home/4591286649.

One of the 'unintended consequences' of our involvement with the Canterbury Festival has been a financial 'windfall'. Those attending the festival do pay for their activities, including all walks, and the festival organisation shares the proceeds with us, bringing a substantial income each year. Clearly, this has meant that we have accumulated quite a large sum of money which we have

decided to contribute towards the maintenance of gates and stiles, initially in the Canterbury area, but now extending across the county. So far, with the support of Averil Brice, as county footpaths officer until she stepped down last year, we have provided funds for many kissing gates and the repair of innumerable stiles, solely from the funds generated by our festival walks and there are more in the 'pipeline'.

Who knows if the Canterbury Festival will take place at all this year? But planning for it is still going ahead for the 17 October - 1 November. So, if this little article has whetted your appetites enough to consider a visit to our lovely city and its environs. do check out the Canterbury Festival programme which should be available at https://canterburyfestival by the time you read this.

Cliff HuggettCanterbury Ramblers

Paths benefit from festival 'windfall'

Canterbury Ramblers enjoy a moment near Waltham at one of the stiles they have helped to restore. Photo: Cliff HuggettMap cover

6 South East Walker June 2020

County CouncilThe Definitive Map Modification Order waiting list is now 74 cases. Of these 20 are under investigation, three are awaiting orders, 10 orders have been made (five objected to) and five confirmed. There are 21 diversions on the pending list; five of these have been confirmed.

Diversions, claims etc• The claim for the path at

Christmas Common has been rejected. The diversion order at Little Rollright, confirmed by the Secretary of State, has been taken to the High Court.

• The planning applications for the Great Wolf development at Bicester, which would have sent Chesterton FP6 through the car park, has been refused planning permission.

• The diversion order for Ardley FP1 to take the path out of the maze of small industrial buildings which partly obstruct it has been confirmed.

• The claim to add a Byway Open to All Traffic in Over Norton has resulted in an order for a restricted byway, which has been confirmed; this is part of the road from Hook Norton to Charlbury in the 1770 Inclosure Award.

Other matters• We have two new Footpath

Officers: Barbara Emery (B&K) and David Baker (D&W).

• Sunningwell Parish Council is trying to find alternative ways

of opening up FP8 through the former quarry. The owner is not particularly cooperative as the path dissects the deer farm. In the same parish, there is a planning application to extend the caravan park, which may resolve a Definitive Map anomaly which routes the path through an adjacent barn.

• At the January meeting of the Footpaths Sub-Committee, we agreed to give the county council some time to find a way to repair the bridge on Marcham FP17, which has been closed for years. The coronavirus has probably delayed this.

• Recently I have been walking from home and reporting anything untoward. First, a bridge on Gisford FP7, reported on 25 March, lodged on 26 March and repaired by the county council's Countryside Access Task Team on 27 March. As this case is shown as "mitigated" I presume that fuller repairs will be made in due course. There is also an amusing pair of waymarks on the Oxford Green Belt Way: the council waymark points across the bridge whilst the Oxford Green Belt Way waymark points, more helpfully, the way the path continues beyond. Finally, a bit of clearance I decided to do on Elsfield FP12 which involved shifting a pile of small branches one by one.

David GodfreyArea Footpath Secretary

Footpath matters

on-lineOXFORDSHIRE

Va le group's path maintenance team, the Vale Path Volunteers,

got a few tasks done before the coronavirus-induced moratorium.

Very little of the metalled path

that runs southwards from Park Road, Faringdon, in the direction of Wickleshamlodge Farm was visible; soil, consolidated by roots, had encroached on it. Removing this required back-breaking shovelling, over two days, with rain pouring down on the second. The sun shone on our last outing to clear a village path in Sutton Courtenay. Nine team members, accompanied by Arthur, our county council Countryside Access officer, got to grips with this one, including sawing a hung-up ivy-covered tree across the path. The cuttings and branches went into Hippo bags supplied by Arthur, some of which we had to drag a long way.

Dave Cavanagh

Vale Path Volunteers

Hauling one of the Hippo bags in Sutton Courtenay. Photo: Avril Ansen

Footbridge in Gisford, repaired in double-quick time. Photo: David Godfrey

Waymarks in two minds on one bridge. Photo: David Godfrey

Can you read a map and follow a route? Can you plan your own routes from

a map? Could you lead others on your route? If you can answer yes to all, then well done you. If you can't then think about coming on the course Oxfordshire Ramblers runs which covers them all. Even if you answered yes, a refresher might be useful.

The course is called 'Walks: Navigation, Planning and Leadership'. It is aimed at giving people the skills to lead a Ramblers walk. As well as basic map reading and navigation, it covers planning an interesting route and leading a group of people where you wish them to go. Even if you don't plan to lead organised walks I think you will find it will help you in planning your own walking.

This autumn, if we are allowed to, we will be running the course again to encourage the walk leaders of the

future or just to give existing ones a quick refresher. It will take place on the evenings of 30 September and 1 October in central Abingdon with a practical session outdoors on Saturday 3 October. Although the course is funded by Oxfordshire Ramblers, members of other areas are welcome.

So, to start leading walks, plan your own walks, or just to gain confidence reading a map, come along. For enquiries or to book a place (no charge), phone or text me on 07968 710869 or email me at valeramblers@gmail.com.

John Gordon

Map, plan, lead

The 42nd Annual General Meeting of Oxfordshire Area was held on 25

January in Beckley Village Hall after a five-mile ramble which included sections of the Oxford Green Belt Way and Oxfordshire Way.

Before the formal meeting, there was a talk by Rebecca Dawson from the Ramblers Board of Trustees. Rebecca made a short statement about the resignation of the Chief Executive Officer, Vanessa Griffiths, before talking about the 'Don't Lose Your Way' project and summarising

the Ramblers achievements in 2019. Questions and comments followed her presentation, for which I thanked her for her interesting and informative responses.

I then opened the formal meeting which was attended by 40 members. The minutes of the 2019 AGM, reports from Area officers and annual reports from the groups were all approved. The new Area Council saw some changes. Peter Stone, who had served for many years as Treasurer and then Membership Secretary, had retired and Wendy Mannix, Thame & Wheatley Group's Membership Secretary, was elected as Area Membership

Secretary. Steve Walde, also from Thame & Wheatley Group, came onto the Area Council as a members' representative.

Members then considered a motion put forward by Terry Pollard, Area Walking Environment and Access Officer, that: 'The Oxfordshire Area of the Ramblers opposes the construction of the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway and its associated developments including one million houses. The Expressway proposal will have a severe negative impact on the countryside, reduce public access to many open spaces and contribute to climate change'. After much discussion, members voted in favour of the motion and also voted in favour of the motion being considered by General Council.

I concluded the meeting by thanking Bob Ward and his team from Thame & Wheatley Group for hosting the event and providing refreshments, including some most delicious cakes.

Jim ParkeChair, Oxfordshire Area

Area AGM

Rebecca Dawson, a Ramblers trustee, addresses the AGM. Photo: John Gordon

Back in February, before coronavirus, the footpath maintenance teams from the Vale and Thame & Wheatley groups combined

for the first time to open up a new footpath. A landowner had asked the county council to move

a footpath in Forest Hill back onto the definitive line, from which it had strayed some years previously. The county council's Countryside Access Officer, Arthur McEwan-James, duly recruited the Vale footpath maintenance team to do this, which involved cutting through a small wood and installing waymark posts to guide walkers. It was then discovered that Forest Hill was actually in the Thame & Wheatley area and therefore the responsibility of this group's footpath maintenance team. The work to be done, however, was way beyond the scope of our small team as it involved cutting down several small trees, and digging up their roots, as well as clearing undergrowth and installing waymark posts, something for which the Vale group had the necessary expertise.

It was therefore agreed that we would set up a combined operation, which would also provide a useful

learning session for Thame & Wheatley members. It also meant that there were more volunteers to get the work done. In the event this proved to be a very successful arrangement, the work was completed in a morning, the two teams worked well together and we had our tutorials as we went along. And both Arthur and the landowner pronounced themselves well pleased with the result.

Tony ClarkThame & Wheatley Ramblers

Path Maintenance Coordinator

Combined effort

Countryside Access Officer Arthur briefs the teams. Photo: Jim Parke A previous course. Photo: John Gordon

South East Walker June 2020 7

Inner London Area's Annual General Meeting took place on Saturday 8 February

with around 70 members present. Three morning walks led by three different groups

ended at the venue in time for attendees to have lunch before the meeting started.

The AGM approved the annual report and accounts and elected the Area Council members for 2020-21. The new committee is me (Chair), Helen Abbott (Secretary), Dick Dunmore (Treasurer), Phil Marson (Vice-Chair and IT Officer), Caroline Wall (Membership Officer) and Des Garrahan (Outreach Officer). Tony Atkins from Morley College Ramblers was elected as a representative of affiliated clubs. The three delegates elected to attend General Council were Clare Wadd, Dick Dunmore and Phil Marson.

Guest speaker Paul Wood, author of London's Street Trees and London is a Forest, gave

a fascinating talk - with slides - about some of London's most remarkable trees which we might come across during our walks. London's Street Trees: A Field Guide to the Urban Forest is being reissued in 2020 - for more about Paul and his books, visit www.thestreettree.com.

Sophie Clissold-Lesser from the Board of Trustees then spoke about Ramblers nationally and responded to some of our questions concerning progress on corporate membership, a national

policy promoting cycling and our ongoing request for staff resources specifically for London, where an eighth of our national membership resides.

Thanks go to Helen Abbott for organising another successful AGM (and for baking most of the cakes), to our two guest speakers and all of those members who supported the Area by attending the meeting.

Clare Wadd Chair, Inner London Area

Area AGM

Paul Wood addresses the meeting. Photo: Clare Wadd

INNER LONDON

insights In mid-March, just as the Ramblers were about to simultaneously launch

campaigns for the London and Manchester mayoral elections, the Covid-19 pandemic struck and the May UK elections delayed for a year.

Staff and volunteers had done a lot of work, developing our calls on the candidates, starting to meet with them, and working with other organisations to create a shared 'green' manifesto.

The volunteer team was ready to start publicising our calls for a Green Walking Network for London, a massively exciting idea to bring the benefits of walking in nature to everyone in our greatest city.

This work hasn't been wasted. We've put it on hold and will resume later this year. Look out for details in South East Walker and on our social media.

Phil MarsonArea Vice Chair

Elections delayed

Hopefully, by the time you read this we'll all have a better idea what the future will hold for

everyone. For many of us regular walk leaders, it's probably been a revelation about how much planning we build into getting our walks on group programmes without realising it. So being severely restricted in where we can go walking and for how long, has certainly wrecked my normal regime.

Notwithstanding these unprecedented times and the extreme measures taken to combat Covid-19, walking guidebooks have always played a prominent part in my walk planning. It just so happens I've spent more time combing the publications on offer and planning the type of themed walks I can lead in and around London when all this is over. And wow, isn't the market for these titles a crowded place.

One recent title is David Fathers' Bloody London. The subtitle is: 20 walks in London, tracing its gruesome and horrific history. Surely a book for our times, at the very least it will provide examples of historical events other than World War II when trying to compare the challenges of today with the past.

This book delves into London's dark and gruesome two-thousand-year history with this delightfully shocking walking guide, filled with twists and turns both metaphorical and literal. And I can confirm it is a delight. David is an illustrator and a very good one. It's this detail that makes his books stand out for me. One of the major pitfalls, if you ask me, is that a great many walking guides fail to keep clear of avoiding page after page of instructions like "... straight ahead for 250 yards, turn sharp left followed by a gentle right ...". The drawing and inserting of anecdote artfully circumvent this challenge

and additionally make the walking out of the walks a pleasure themselves.

In the interests of full disclosure, I ought to point out that David is a friend and we have jointly hosted a great many enjoyable walks over the past year. Up to now, they've all been from his book London's Hidden Rivers. As well as the history and culture we always end the walk in a local pub where all assembled put the world to rights. (As I'm a Chelsea fan and David follows Spurs, we spend a disproportionate time talking football as well.)

David has also written walking guides to the London Thames Path and The Regent's Canal and we'd already made plans to lead a walk in August commemorating 200 years of the Regent's Canal and make a joint appearance at Totally Thames in September featuring a stretch of the river. I am keen for both these events to still go ahead but keep a check on social media - David's twitter is @TheTilbury and mine is @

walkingclasshero - to see what we've got planned.

If you have any interest in London walking guides why not give Bloody London a try. Even better if you come along to a walk either led jointly by David and me or just on my own, you'll get a discount code to be able to buy the book at a slightly reduced price.

So, as group walking programmes are likely to take a little while to get back up and running I'll be leading walks as soon as possible around the walks detailed in Bloody London while continuing Hidden Rivers walks and hoping to be able to put on the Regent's Canal walk and take part in Totally Thames. So anybody who is interested in joining any of these walks could email me at ramblerdes@gmail.com specifying David Fathers' Walks in the subject line with their

own email contact details and I'll add you to my email list.

Des Garrahan

Bloody London is published by Bloomsbury (ISBN 9781844865505, £9.99).

Gruesome trails

Author and illustrator David Fathers.

8 South East Walker June 2020

Ian Falkner, who has led the Edenbridge Strollers group in Kent for 28 years, has

written a book of walks in his local area. 'Strolling Through Three Counties' features 21 walks in the Sevenoaks area, with route maps and photos.

Says Ian: "Twenty-eight years ago three people and a dog went on a short walk around the countryside of Edenbridge. That group expanded into a full-blown rambling group, the Edenbridge Strollers, stretching its horizons into the depths of Kent, Surrey and Sussex. I have been a group organiser for all that time. So we thought it might be opportune to share some of the delightful walks that we have been on - and, just as important, to point out some of the notable landmarks and stunning viewpoints that we came across. I have tried to make this more than a conventional walks book by making the walk descriptions more interesting and by providing background and historical information about the villages, etc, on the routes. Hopefully, this will make the book more attractive to walkers and non-walkers in equal measure."

Ian, a retired manager with Royal Mail, has lived in Edenbridge for

40 years. He is also a member of Sevenoaks Ramblers. a member of the town council's footpaths committee, secretary of the local chess club, and publicity officer for the local amateur dramatic company.

Copies of the book (£11.99 paperback, £13.99 hardback) may be purchased from the stationers shop at 53 Edenbridge High Street (contact Lucinda Panniall on 07955 722782), from Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd (25 Canada Square, Canada Wharf, London E14 5LQ (https://www.austinmacauley.com) or from Amazon.

New guide byEdenbridge stroller

Cast your minds back to February 1970 - Harold Wilson was

Prime Minister, the Beatles were still together, flares were in, the average house price was £4,975 (yes, really!) and petrol cost 6s 8d (33p) a gallon. And, for the adventurous amongst you, the memory will be of cyclists being permitted to ride across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

But, we in our small way in Hillingdon and surrounding areas were doing our bit too. On the 7 February 1970, we held the first meeting where it was decided to form Hillingdon Ramblers and hold our first walk on 21 February that year, placing ourselves amongst the aforementioned notable events!

On Saturday 22 February this year, we held an eight-mile walk to mark our 50th anniversary,

supported by 33 members, some of whom had been with us since inception. Mind you, it was difficult to recognise them in their wet weather gear when it rained steadily throughout the morning walk and the only variation in mud was its depth. The walk was punctuated with a hot lunch prepared by the catering team who manage to produce meals on a budget that would teach us all something about economics. We use the local Guides hut on the edge of Ruislip Woods which is an excellent base for woodland walks and transport links and helps us support another local group.

An anniversary cake took pride of place on the table and Bob Baker, one of our inaugural members, cut the cake before making a speech. Bob is well known for his long distance walks in surrounding counties, bringing very welcome and added variety to our programme.

We had added several celebratory events during the year including a country dance, garden party and autumn buffet but have had to put these on hold until normal walking is resumed.

Elise WrightHillingdon Ramblers

Remember when...

If I recall it correctly, the first coach trip I led for West Essex Ramblers started

from Wittersham in Kent. The idea was to walk to Rye for lunch then go on to Peasmarsh where I had friends who owned a hotel and who had been kind enough to offer tea and cakes for free to our 50-plus party.

I was born in Rye and spent my teenage years there so it was fairly straightforward to organise the lunch break. The drinkers would go to the Ypres Castle (pronounced by locals as 'Wipers') and everyone else would lunch in the nearby Gun

Gardens with views across the marshes to Rye Harbour and the still-receding sea.

Being something of a novice, I was concerned about the postprandial assembly but all went without a hitch and, as a group, we set off for a short tour of the town. Anyone familiar with Rye will know it is characterised by cobbled streets and narrow passageways. It was only when we had escaped the town and reached the River Tillingham that I realised that the group was now much smaller.

I found out later that, as we passed the church, one of our party

was mesmerised by the sight of the massive pendulum which is visible from the door: having popped in to have a look, the rest of the walkers followed.

I asked the 32 that I had left to wait by the river whilst I sprinted back to the town to look for the remainder. A panicked search revealed nothing so I returned to the waiting group. Leslie volunteered to lead the 32 to Iden church in the hope that I could discover the rest and meet up there. Meanwhile, I circled the town and eventually came across my lost sheep wandering around a deserted farm. Much relieved, I set off to the church rendezvous. When I arrived, there was no one there.

Apparently, soon after I left the first group, there was a disagreement over the map-reading and there was a general consensus that, rather than follow the pre-planned walk, they would go to the hotel in Peasmarsh.

Nowadays, it would have been a relatively simple matter to resolve using mobile phones but, at the time, we relied on walkie-talkies which had a very limited range. Having waited at the church for a time, we made our way to the hotel only to discover that most of the cakes had been eaten!

Len Banister

Lost and found – and lost again!

Lost in Rye. Photo: Len Banister

Ken Falkner. Photo: Patrick Bastow

Bob Baker cuts the anniversary cake. Photo: Elise Wright

Rain fell steadily on the morning of the anniversary walk. Photo: Elise Wright

Gift of the wind,this kite is brown ribbontied in a forked bow tethered to floaton the blue, the wraparoundpaper sky.

She is queenof air, of indignant cloud.of chalk-white downs: glorious in russet feathers,royal, she owns these hillswe walk on.

Whilst walking on the North Downs not far from where I live, I spotted a kite (the feathered variety, not the sky-flier with ribbons!) over Bluebell Hill.

Kite over Bluebell Hill

c Lizzie Ballagher

South East Walker June 2020 9

believe that the nine walks organised in 1952 were "poorly supported" and the 10 walks in the following year were only "slightly better supported". Membership rose steadily from 66 in 1950 to 117 in 1960. In 1961 the group combined with other walking groups for 'Let's Go Walking' week, to encourage people to go on country walks, not just for the health and wellbeing benefits we know of today, but to emphasise the fact that if you do not use footpaths you may lose them - sounds familiar territory! By the end of 1969 the average attendance on a ramble has risen to 19 and from January 1970 there were two full-day walks and two half-day walks each month, rising in April to four full-day walks.

At the AGM in February 1969 a very keen walker by the name of Janet Spayne suggested the group should organise walking weekends further afield and as is often the way when you come up with a bright idea, you are invited to get on with it! And so she did actually organise several hostelling trips, including visits to Derbyshire, the Lake District and Dartmoor. To this day Croydon Ramblers always seems to be off somewhere! Janet, together with fellow walker Audrey Krynski, later went on to write books of walks in and around Surrey which have proved to be very popular and are often still used today as a basis for a good ramble. You've just got to remember that sometimes the M25 may cause a bit of an obstruction!

Some names from those early years may ring a bell with you, or you may perhaps know of a relative who might be involved with the Ramblers and may even have some lovely photos: Ronald Foyle, Hubert Beale, Bernard Broadway, Peggy Sumner, Dennis Baldery and Vic Morecroft. These people were the early pioneers of Croydon Ramblers and I for one will be eternally grateful to them! At this point, I must thank Lionel Hardham for the facts and figures I have purloined from his excellent

pamphlet, 'A Brief History of Croydon Group'.

I am now going to skip forward to look at the evolution of Croydon Ramblers over the last ten years. Seeing as I joined about 10 years ago I should know something about it! Erm,,, yes. In 2010, our 60th anniversary year, we were reckoned to be one of the most active groups in the country with over 900 members and a programme of walks on six days a week. In March that year, the group held a celebration lunch - we do a lot of that - and over 140 members attended together with members of Surrey Area and the Mayor of Croydon. By the time you read this we will probably have had our 70th-anniversary lunch and a barn dance (not both on the same day).

Holidays seem to be a prominent feature in our programme and over the last 10 years, we have enjoyed many, ranging from the USA to New Zealand, Cumbria to Cornwall, also squeezing in a few overnight or weekend jollies to youth hostels and camping barns. Long may this continue. We celebrate milestone (or should that be millstone) birthdays when members reach the age of 80, 90 or even 100. This usually takes the form of a morning walk followed by a celebratory lunch with the blowing out of candles (one for every ten years), then a somewhat slower-paced walk in the afternoon often with more tea and cake at the end. We have walk leaders' teas and teas for long-standing members. It's a wonder we don't all look like Michelin men and can walk at all!

The walking programme evolves each year with some types of walks and events disappearing and new ones creeping in. We have regular power walks of about four miles at a very quick pace - so quick in fact that I haven't been able to catch them up! These are designed to get your body working at its full potential - muscles and organs pumping away for super fitness. There is a walk every day of

the year except 25 December and on some days there may be two or even three walks on offer. Thursday seems to be the most popular day followed by Tuesday. We occasionally have a walk to a pub though this can be tricky if you have 45 walkers in muddy boots so we tend to do these on summer evenings.

Like all groups, we have our AGM which is quite a pleasant and enjoyable event involving lunch and a 'market' with boots, maps, jams, pottery, crafts and even oil paintings on offer. Then, after the 'business bit' we may have an audiovisual presentation from yours truly - no snoring allowed!

Now I must mention our footpath working party which meets once a month to do sterling work on maintaining local paths, restoring stiles and fingerposts and, of course, installing kissing gates, usually paid for out of the tea money, donated at the end of our Thursday walks in return for a cup of tea and a biscuit, or cake if you are lucky.

Many of our membership, which currently stands at 785 has been persuaded over the years to receive the quarterly programme of walks, holidays and events by email. This is a bit of a bugbear of mine for when I ask fellow members if they have read this that or the other and they say no, it invariably transpires that they receive the programme by email and only read the details of the walks they want to go on and miss all the other information. The A5 booklet that is produced has all the information one requires for the next three months and comes in a very portable and readable format. I have always said that I would be willing to pay £10 a year to cover the costs and maybe the group would make a small profit. There, I've said my piece and I won't mention it again - probably.

We have our own Croydon Ramblers Facebook page, which is seen by invitation only, where we share photos and comments on recent activities. So it is plain to

see that most of us have embraced modern technology in some way or other and this allows us to share information and keep in contact with others in the group.

As I sit at my desk staring at my crystal ball what do I see in the future? Well, strange to relate, I see a mug of tea and a slice of cake! I am absolutely confident that tea and cake for walkers, birthday celebrations and lunches at AGMs will continue well into the future. I don't know how the membership numbers will go as we have had the post-war baby boomers who have been, arrived and possibly moved on. With the retirement age forever being pushed upwards I cannot see a vast influx of retirees having either the energy or time to walk with us. Those who are still at work have so many demands on their time that an occasional walk with us would be a rare treat and might not think it worthwhile becoming members. If numbers stay roughly where they are today, I can see no problem with that.

Walking holidays are and always will be a prominent feature of our programme. We all like holidays and if you can combine your love of walking with stunning scenery, good food, comfortable accommodation and the company of like-minded friends, what's not to like? Usually, our walking holidays are fairly short with maybe four or five days walking and this is what most walkers can cope with both physically and mentally unless of course, the trip is a long-haul one when we might like to spend longer at the destination but not necessarily walking each day.

Our walks programme looks good with eight or nine walks a week and as long as we can persuade keen walkers to come forward and enjoy the 'benefits' of being a walk leader, long may it continue. Which of us does not look forward to perusing a new quarterly programme and deciding which walks or events take our fancy?

In spite of having several hundred members, a number of these do not walk with us. This could be for a variety of reasons such as a shortage of time, poor health or maybe even a dislike of mud. Who knows? Whatever the reason it would be nice to think that these members could share in the joys of being outdoors. We can show photos and even make videos of walks but perhaps by embracing new technology we could do virtual walks, even possibly a walk from the current programme! I can see myself in say 10 years time (if I am lucky enough to live that long) in my front room, virtual reality headset on and standing on a motorised treadmill with handrails for support. The walk starts at the foot of Box Hill and as I walk slowly up, the treadmill rises to simulate the slope. I can see my fellow walkers looking very fit and as I reach the summit I can look around at the superb views as I had dialled blue sky and sunshine into my headset. It sounds good and is a distinct possibility for the future but it couldn't replace the feeling of mud under the boots, rain on the head or wind and sun on the face. Or could it?

John TicknerProud to be a Croydon Rambler!

Continued from page 1

Members assembled at All Saints' church at Sanderstead for the first stage of the walk to Seaford. Photo: Anne Goulbourn

Anniversary walkCroydon's 70th birthday celebrations began with a barn dance in early March followed by the first stage of a seven-stage walk from Sanderstead to the coast at Seaford, a route of exactly 70 miles!

We had 27 people on this first stage of nine miles to Oxted. Sheila and Peter led us out of Sanderstead in a little bit of sunshine but we soon found lots of mud as we headed for St Mary's church in Farleigh for our traditional

elevenses coffee break. Passing lots of gates installed in memory of past Croydon members, we continued on towards Woldingham where we sat on a hillside, looking out at the view whilst eating our packed lunches before being hit by a sudden shower of icy rain. Umbrellas were soon out and after a very quick sandwich we carried on to Oxted. This first leg came just before the lockdown so we must now await the time when we will be able to continue.

Anne Goulbourn

Virtual reality walkers. Photo: John Tickner

Work of Local Ramblers - Surveyed 170 Miles of Footpaths in a Year During their first year of existence Croydon Group of the Ramblers' Association - the first in Britain - have surveyed approximately 170 miles of footpaths in Surrey parishes. Reporting this at the first annual meeting of the Group at Waddon on Tuesday, Mr J A J Moreman, Footpaths Committee chairman, said that surveys had been carried out in Coulsdon and Purley, Merstham, Hadlow, Forest Row, Shipbourne and Effingham. Mr Hubert Beale, secretary, reported that there was a membership of 81 during 1950, but at present this stood at 66.

During the year a variety of lectures and visits had been arranged. Average attendance had been 30. Mr V B Stockwell, treasurer, reported that the group had a balance of over £7, which was larger than the grant to start the group from the Ramblers' Association. The Social Sub-committee had arranged three successful socials during the year, which had benefitted funds.

Officers re-elected were: Mr R G Foyle, chairman; Mr Hubert Beale, secretary; Mr J H J Moreman, vice-chairman; Mr V B Stockwell, treasurer. Question of approaching a Croydon personality to accept the presidency of the group was discussed, but it was decided to hold the matter over for a year.

Norwood News, 27 April 1951

She is queenof air, of indignant cloud.of chalk-white downs: glorious in russet feathers,royal, she owns these hillswe walk on.

Happy 70th birthday Croydon Ramblers!

How the local press reported those early days:Local Ramblers Start Footpath SurveyThe Croydon group of the Ramblers' Association - first local group in the country - which had its inaugural meeting in March starts a footpath survey this weekend in a parish not many miles from Croydon. Keeping footpaths open to the public, and establishing rights of way, are two of the main activities of the Association. Secretary of the Croydon group is Mr Hubert Beale, 17 South Norwood-hill, who will be pleased to give details of membership.

Norwood News, 12 May 1950

Local Ramblers' Association First annual meeting of Croydon Group of the Ramblers' Association will be held at 68 Warham-road, South Croydon, on Tuesday at 7.30. Croydon group was the first to be formed in Britain and during the past year has organised footpath surveys in Surrey. Secretary is Mr Hubert Beale, 17 South Norwood-hill SE25. All interested in the open air are invited to the meeting.

Norwood News, 20 April 1951

10 South East Walker June 2020

KENTcalling

A group walk I led from Lower Rainham in early March (before

Covid-19), which included a section of the Saxon Shore Way.

As expected, it was very muddy, but the views beside the Medway

were beautiful. Towards the end of the day, we walked through the hamlet of Breach, where there is a chicken farm, and the path crosses the fields in front of the barns. We saw a few chickens in the distance, but soon, thousands came out to see

what was happening and followed us to the last gate. Unfortunately, there wasn't an honesty box selling eggs!

Carole FlowerdayNorth West Kent Ramblers

Big audience

The group with the curious chickens. Photo: Andy Clark

Two Kent walking festivals have been cancelled because of

restrictions on group gatherings due to coronavirus, and another may follow.

The Heart of Kent Walking

Festival, a new event based in the Maidstone area, was to have taken place over the weekend of 25-26 April whilst the Elham Valley Walking Festival was to have been held on the weekend of 30 - 31 May. The organisers of both events are planning for them to go ahead next year.

This year's White Cliffs Walking Festival, scheduled to

take place between 27 August - 1 September, has been put on hold, pending further government guidelines on group gatherings. If restrictions have been lifted by late June, then organisers may still go ahead with the event, but probably in a slimmed-down format, with fewer walks than the 36 originally planned.

Graham Smith

Festivals

Before the lockdown, our group took a walk through Petts Wood and

Hawkwood, in the Chislehurst area.

Owned and cared for by the National Trust, these woodlands provide well-marked paths including a part of the London Loop, with further links to Scadbury and Jubilee Parks. In the heart of Petts Wood is a memorial to William Willett, who took the view that we were wasting precious morning sunshine in bed and came up with the idea of daylight saving by changing the clocks. This eventually became British Summer Time. Here we

are pictured by the memorial and sundial which commemorates the extra hour we get for walking each summer.

Beverley Johnston Dartford and Gravesham

Ramblers

Willett is said to have had the idea for daylight saving whilst riding his horse in Petts Wood. He published a pamphlet 'The Waste of Daylight' in 1907 but struggled to get his ideas adopted. He died from influenza in 1915, a year before the pressures of the world war led to a modified adoption of his ideas being incorporated into the Defence of the Realm Act in 1916.

Willett memorial

At the Willetts memorial in Petts Wood. Photo: Beverley Johnston

Margaret Lubbock has taken over again as Chairman of White

Cliffs Ramblers, following the resignation of Jim Cheney.

Margaret, who had previously been Chairman for eight years,

has agreed to be the group's interim Chairman until the AGM in October when it is hoped the position can be filled permanently.

Graham SmithWhite Cliffs Ramblers

Back in the chair

Briefly• Blackbushe judgement:

The Open Spaces Society was delighted in late April when the High Court quashed a planning inspector's decision to approve the removal of land at Blackbushe Aerodrome in northeast Hants from the register of common land. The case concerned a part of Yateley Common on the Hants, Surrey, Berks border, which was requisitioned as an RAF base during the Second World War. Although de-requisitioned in 1960, it continued in use as a private airfield - despite being registered as

common land. Following an application to deregister the land, an inspector considered that it was within the curtilage of the terminal buildings when originally registered. The judge found the inspector's decision flawed and went beyond the meaning of 'the curtilage of the building'. Hugh Craddock, a case officer for the society, commented: "Blackbushe aerodrome is no more curtilage of the terminal building than Victoria station is curtilage of the signal box".

• The Line Online: The Line sculpture trail in east London has marked its fifth anniversary with the

launch of an improved interactive website at the-line.org. This offers a virtual experience of the route, incorporates an interactive map, interviews with artists and provides some background on the area's heritage features. The route from the O2 in North Greenwich, crosses the Thames to follow the River Lea northwards towards Stratford. The route has also been extended at the northern end through the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to pass Anish Kapoor's ArcelorMittal Orbit (said to be the UK's largest sculpture) and Carsten Holler's The Slide.

• Exhibitions online: The Museum of English Rural Life has made some of its past exhibitions available online during the lockdown. Visitors to the website of the museum in Reading, which records the changing face of farming and the countryside, can tour 'Wellbeing and the Countryside', 'Smocks, Smocking and Smocked', and 'Farming: the first 12,000 years', at merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/online-exhibitions/

• Downs Link: An event to celebrate the improved route of the Downs Link path into Christ's Hospital station in West Sussex was due to take place on

24 April. For many years walkers and cyclists using the route from Guildford to Shoreham-by-Sea which mostly follows the trackbeds of two disused railways, have had to take a two-mile road route near Christ's Hospital station where the original route had been sold off. After years of negotiations with landowners, the Downs Link now follows the trackbed into one of the station's former platforms. An official opening event, reported the West Sussex Gazette, was planned by retired police officer Paul Hamlin who had campaigned to open the old line since 1999.

South East Walker June 2020 11

Earlier this year 17 Godalming & Haslemere members spent an

enjoyable day exploring Fitzrovia and Soho in London.

The group regularly includes

walks in London and these often take full advantage of the marvellous range of publications available which, not only suggest a route but include details of interesting and historic buildings along the way.

The opportunity was also taken to share a marvellous lunch in a quirky Turkish restaurant in Berwick Street which proved to be very popular.

Philip WatsonGodalming & Haslemere Ramblers

Members were able to bond with this particularly fine work of art. Photo: Beila Best

Twenty-eight Epsom & Ewell Ramblers 'enjoying' a walk from Ranmore Common in February, despite the mud and wet conditions. Photo: Donald MacLeod

Veteran walker Keith Chesterton achieved a major milestone on

Wednesday 29 January when he completed his 1,000th walk with Guildford Ramblers, 270 of which he has led himself.

Keith, 85, has been a member of the Ramblers nationally for 60 years. He founded Guildford Ramblers in January 1989 and was Chairman for 23 years. He is now Life President. During his time with the group, he has seen membership grow from 20 to over 300 walkers.

He has always been a keen walker; as an eight-year-old, he remembers asking his mother if they could walk home from the cinema as he preferred it to the bus. Commenting on his lifelong interest he said: "Walking is much more popular now than it used to be. People

walk for many different reasons, some for fitness or to meet people, others for the love of the countryside or interest in plants, trees and wildlife."

But Keith doesn't just walk around Guildford. In earlier years he climbed Kilimanjaro, trekked to Annapurna base camp, completed the Three Peaks Challenge and walked 11 of the best-known long distance paths in the UK including the West Highland Way which he completed only two years ago.

His other interests include his family, cycling and cross-country skiing when younger and politics. He spent eight years as a Guildford Borough councillor and was lead for the environment and four years as a member of Surrey County Council.

Richard PetersGuildford Ramblers

Keith completes 1,000th walk with Guildford Ramblers

Soho or bust!

SURREYsnippets

Keith (in dark blue jacket) was presented with a framed certificate to mark his 1,000th group walk by Lynne Davies (in purple jacket), Chair of Guildford Ramblers, together with a bottle of champagne for Keith to share with his wife.

Photo: Richard Peters

Briefly• Drink Map of Oxford

1883: Oxford University's Bodleian Library has reproduced this map which was first published by the Temperance Union of Oxfordshire. Its aim was to illustrate how the beer houses (often in people's front rooms), breweries and other alcohol outlets in the city were concentrated in the poorer areas of the city and to imply a link

with criminality. The map, which might appeal to the walker with an interest in local history, comes with an introduction by Stuart Ackland who has worked in the map room at the Bodleian for more than 30 years. Copies can be obtained in bookshops (£10, ISBN 978 1851245352) or from the Bodleian's website.

• Map & compass courses: John Harmer's courses at Battle in East Sussex have had to be suspended during

the current restrictions but he hopes they can return in early autumn. John's one-day Explore with Map and Compass courses in the countryside around Battle cost £10 with reduced rates available. If you are interested in future dates, call John on 01424 773998 or email john@harmerfamily.plus.com.

• East-West Rail: The Secretary of State for Transport has approved Network Rail's Transport & Works Act Order application,

granting permission for work on the second phase of the project which will eventually link Oxford with Cambridge. This will involve track and signalling upgrades between Bicester, Bedford, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes, including reinstating a disused section of railway between Bletchley and Claydon in Buckinghamshire. The work will allow for new services from Oxford to Milton Keynes, Oxford to Bedford and Milton Keynes to Aylesbury.

• Wild camping on London's doorstep: Lee Valley Park has a site near Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, for 'rugged camping free from the trappings of commercial sites'. The 'Almost Wild' site has 17 pitches within woodland, solar-powered lights, composting toilets and a cold water tap, for £12 a night. Details at visitleevalley.org.uk/almostwild or call 03000 030619

12 South East Walker June 2020

At the time of writing and for the first time in our group's history

there are no walks. During the foot and mouth epidemic, we were the only group for miles around to continue with a full programme albeit an urban one as all the paths were closed. This, however, is different and we will only re-start when circumstances allow.

If things have improved by mid-June, a full programme will include on Friday 12 catching the 168 bus at 10.25 from Sandy to Wrestlingworth for a walk to Biggleswade. What may be the first evening walk of the summer will be on Monday 22, 7.30 pm from Blunham church. The city explorer break to Bristol and Bath at the end of June currently hangs in the balance and may have to be postponed.

If restrictions have been lifted by July, our programme will include the Great Ouse Kayaking Experience and the Yomp, Chomp and Roll Up annual event at

Langford.We have two intriguing interest

walks lined up for August. The first is on Thursday 6 August from the Cowpers Arms at Digswell, near Welwyn North station. The second on Thursday 20 August from St Paul's Square in Bedford. Railway walks from Bedford St Johns to Ridgmont on Friday 7 using the Marston Vale line followed by a linear walk and on Sunday 18 to London walking churches in the Oranges and Lemons rhyme. A bus walk on Friday 21 August will use the 41

from Bedford to Brafield-on-the-Green, then walking along the Nene Way to Northampton.

Later in the year, a coach trip to Charles Dickens' city of Rochester on Sunday 20 September, a long weekend in Wells, often described as England's smallest city, from 2 - 5 October and on Thursday 29 October a visit to WH Peacock in Bedford for an insight into the world of an auctioneer with a light-hearted competition testing our skills at valuing items before a sale

Ivel Valley Walkers

Organisers have been asked if the festival will take place and at present,

the answer, unfortunately, cannot be given.

What can be said is that if life is back to something like normal and restrictions are lifted the festival will take place. Preparations are well underway so that if the decision is to go ahead we can immediately have programmes and posters printed and start promoting the event. Organisers have also been asked how people might respond this year and the consensus view is that they will either be so pleased to be walking again there will be an increase in participation or people will be wary of going out in groups. Nevertheless, the festival will be

offering a full range of walking opportunities ranging from the 30 - 90-minute health walks, slightly longer ambles, informative interest walks of around two hours, half-day walks of five to seven miles, all-day 10-mile walks to the two-day 40-mile Greensand Ridge Challenge. The programme is still evolving and details will be found on our website www.bedswalkfest.co.uk.

The first weekend of the festival will see a new kind of challenge organised by Central Bedfordshire's Country & Leisure team. This is the Three Green Wheel Challenge aimed at all ages and abilities. The Green wheels are in Sandy, Biggleswade and Etonbury.

We have linked up with all the

train operators in the county and will provide walks accessible by rail in the hope of appealing to groups and individuals in London, the Midlands and farther afield.

Last year the village of Elstow, John Bunyan's birthplace, added his name to their signage and earlier this year Bedford Borough added 'Bunyan Country' to their signs on the approaches to Bedford. The festival will include informative walks about John Bunyan in both Bedford and Elstow.

On the first weekend, two training courses have been added to the festival mix, one for potential walk leaders and the other for those who are baffled by maps, confused by a compass and daunted by digital devices.

The 40-mile Greensand Ridge Challenge will take place over the second weekend, 12-13 September.

The programme including booking details and up-to-date information will be available on the website www.bedswalkfest.co.uk. For more information or any queries, email organiser@bedswalkfest.co.uk.

Barry Ingram

We had only just resumed our footpath activities

for 2020 before the pandemic brought our work to a halt.

Having previously decided to take a break during January our work started with a walk and fix in the very south of the county on the border with Hertfordshire at East Hyde. Our work was the cutting back and clearance of encroaching saplings and branches, to re-site loose marker posts, replace missing discs and report any anomalies we couldn't deal with back to local Highways/Rights of Way officer Robin Richardson. Our volunteers reported what appeared to be an anomaly where marker posts directed users straight ahead but users had crossed to the other side of a hedge and indications were that this route had been used for some time. Having completed the first part of the task and with most of the volunteers coming from the north of the county it was decided we would continue into the afternoon with a similar task from Chiltern Green. This job was also completed and a fallen tree reported.

Our second task was just outside Caddington in the village of Aley Green where a bridleway had become very overgrown and narrow. In advance of our visit, some of the larger obstructions had been removed but nevertheless it

took eight people over four hours using loppers, saws and power tools. A great job was done.

The third task was with Bedford Borough in Renhold on the outskirts of Bedford where bridleways and footpaths needed marker posts, discs and clearance. A large turnout of volunteers enabled the work to be split among three groups, resulting in all the work being completed in the morning. Thanks to our volunteers the path should now be walkable throughout the year.

Our fourth task was clearing a blocked footpath and repairing access along the River Ivel just outside Sandy. There was another excellent turnout of volunteers who took a couple of hours to clear the very large bramble blockage using a mix of loppers, pruners and power tools also cleared overhanging branches and encroaching vegetation whilst work was going on repairing access up the banking to the river. News of the lockdown was on the tv that night and soon after came emails from the Ramblers and councils. At the time we had a number of jobs in the pipeline but these will have to await our return.

Barry Ingram

Bedfordshire Walking Festival (9-13 September)

Footpath work

Many paths have been improved thanks to our wonderful volunteers. Photo: Barry Ingram

BEDFORDSHIRE

bulletin

The Area's training course for walk leaders planned for 9 May and the Apps,

Maps and Compass course planned for 14 June will now be held in September to coincide with the Bedfordshire Walking Festival

On Saturday 5 September there will be a one-day Apps, Maps and Compass course in the Summerlin Centre, Woburn Sands MK17 8SG and on Sunday 6 September a one-

day Walk Leaders course at Keysoe Village Hall, Keysoe Row West MK44 2JE.

If there is sufficient demand there will be a further course (or courses) at the end of September/early October. Both courses are open to all, cost £10 per person and start at 10 am. Booking essential. For more information or to book, contact Nick M email bedswalkfest@gmail.com or telephone 07803 125876.

Barry Ingram

Training courses

One of last year's festival walks. Photo: Barry Ingram

Ivel Valley members on a trip to Virginia Water and Windsor in happier times. Photo: Barry Ingram

Ivel Valley look forward

South East Walker June 2020 13

A mixed time for Lea & Icknield (Luton)February was a mixed

month for our group; two named storms on

successive weekends caused us, probably along with many other groups, to cancel our planned walks amid safety concerns. But we enjoyed walks that were a lot different from our usual fare on the other two Sundays.

The beginning of the month saw us on a London walk. These are always popular and this one was no exception, attracting 30 people (a big group for us). We travelled by train to St Pancras and then by tube to Camden Town (the official start of the walk), where our leader, Bob, suggested we all had a 'buddy' in order to ensure nobody was left behind! We then set off to Regent's Park, the first of five parks we were to visit, then on to the Regent's Canal towpath which, combined with some street walking, took us to Little Venice where we stopped for coffee. Then we headed off to Kensington Gardens with a lunch stop in the Italian Gardens before passing the re-gilded Albert Memorial to enter Hyde

Park. Then it was under the Wellington Arch and into Green Park where we lingered for a while by Buckingham Palace before entering St James's Park to finish at Westminster station and onto Blackfriars where we thanked Bob for an excellent walk before taking the train home. A number of us had done the walk before but it never fails to please.

The end of the month saw

another very different walk, but this time, following gales and rain, not so many made the 35-mile journey to Graffham Water. The nine-mile walk around the reservoir is a popular choice for winter as it is almost all on a hard surface though this time we found the rain of the winter had left many muddy stretches and puddles, the latter usually coming just as we were overtaken

by runners who also enjoy the waterside path. But the weather was kind to us and a torrential downpour before the start soon gave way to sunshine which lasted most of the day. It was an easy walk which was enjoyed by all and thanks are due to our leader, Jeff.

The beginning of March is the start of our eagerly-anticipated spring programme but, as is

so often said, 'You never know what's around the corner'. How true! None of us had any idea that within a few weeks our walks and all other Ramblers activities, would be cancelled as Covid-19 tightened its grip. We hope that our members will keep fit with permitted local walking and we all safely emerge from the crisis.

Rosemary HaskerLea & Icknield (Luton) Group

In early February came the news that Nigel Greenfield had died after a long struggle with cancer. He was

a member of our group's committee from 2008 to 2019 and had regularly led walks since 1999. The unexpected development of bone cancer in a leg and the amputation that followed brought a premature end to Nigel's extensive involvement with the group.

Although a lot of Nigel's walks for Ivel Valley were in the area around Langford where he lived, Nigel was an adventurous leader and liked to try new things. He led two walks in London with the Haunted London and Jack the Ripper themes. Being a man of Norfolk, he could not ignore his native county and led a walk along the

River Little Ouse near Thetford. He also organised a successful coach trip to the Rye area.

He was the instigation for some walking holidays with colleagues from Ivel Valley outside the official programme, with me, Barry Ingram and Ken Warner, he tackled Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk and with me, Mike Connolly and Barry Ingram completed the West Highland Way. Finishing this latter walk in Fort William, the four climbed Ben Nevis before returning home.

Our condolences go to his wife Sue, his sons Mark and Paul and the rest of the family.

Tony ShewardIvel Valley Walkers

Nigel Greenfield

Nigel is on the right in this group shot on the West Highland Way holiday. Photo: Barry Ingram

Most of us enjoy a bit of a mystery so our group launched mystery walks five years ago.

The brainchild of Julian Chritchlow and June Ayres, the walks have been successfully led by them since 2015, with the turnout varying from six to 30. So far there have been more than 50 mystery walks ranging from the vicinity of Leighton Buzzard, south to the Chilterns, west to Stewkley in Bucks, east to Barton le Clay in Beds and north to Newport Pagnall. Just the meeting point in Leighton Buzzard is given in our programme though Julian will provide the mystery location for those who wish to go direct to the start.

Held on the second Sunday of the month they never exceed six miles and at times can be four or five miles (meaning more time for the pub at the end). Generally, the walks are within a 15-mile radius of Leighton Buzzard and, as with all our walks, car-sharing has proved invaluable. The pub stop at the end of each walk gives members a chance to swap tales about rambling as well as world affairs plus, of course, the weather. For anyone new to the group, the mystery walks provide an excellent introduction, with easy walking and great camaraderie. Who could ask for more?

Linda HartleyLeighton Buzzard Ramblers

Mystery walks

Striding out on a mystery walk at Bow Brickhill. Photo: Linda Hartley

Ready for the off at St Pancras before the London walk.

14 South East Walker June 2020

In the March issue, we carried an article by Richard Iles about the work West Essex Group has

been doing on path maintenance, led by Brian Smith. This was formally recognised at the Essex Area Annual General Meeting in February by Dr Peter Rookes, Vice-Chair of the Ramblers' Board of Trustees, who presented Brian

with a commendation for the group's efforts.

Readers of South East Walker will be familiar with the fight against rail crossings closures proposed by Network Rail, which threaten the footpath network in the county, and also receiving a commendation at the Annual General Meeting were Area Footpath Secretaries for outstanding

effort and work on the Network Rail inquiry. Peter Rookes presented this to Gordon Bird and Alan Goffee, Chair and Vice-Chair respectively of Essex Ramblers.

There was also to have been an award ceremony at General Council in April but the ceremony has been postponed until autumn because of the Covid-19 virus. The award is being given to all Essex Footpath Secretaries for their work fighting the proposed closures. The full nomination reads: "This group of Footpath Secretaries led by Gordon Bird and Alan Goffee recognised four years ago the threat Network Rail posed when they wanted to close or divert 60+ railway crossings using a Transport Works Act. If allowed to go ahead Network Rail could devastate our Essex footpath network and later national networks. A huge awareness exercise was mounted amongst Essex Ramblers who were encouraged to attend Network Rail's information briefing sessions to make our views known and gather more

information on what was behind this previously unheard-of approach. An appeal against Network Rail's action was then lodged. A robust time-consuming defence of Ramblers' rights was needed. This started with an in-depth survey of the proposals and their effect on walkers. Reports were drafted and photos were taken. These findings were written into a format suitable for presentation to the inquiry. Help from Central Office was sought as it became clear this was going to be a vital and costly business. The inquiry was at times both intimidating and exhausting. It ran over two sets of hearings. The first hearing was abandoned in 2017 when due notices had not been served by Network Rail. One year later in the autumn of 2018, the hearing resumed, each crossing, in turn, was examined, often with 12 people present on the Network

Rail side and three or less speaking out for Ramblers rights. The formal inquiry finished, then the inspector went to view all the crossings being challenged allowing just one Ramblers representative and one Network Rail representative to attend. Later this year, four years very intensive and time-consuming work by a very dedicated group of Ramblers who had gone well beyond what could be regarded as their normal volunteering roles could end. Whatever the outcome of the inquiry, this group could have done no more."

Although the inquiry into Network Rail's proposals closed in March 2019, at the time of writing it is unknown when the final recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport will be published.

Mike CannellEssex Area Media Officer

Commendations

In the March issue, we reported that with hard work from Uttlesford

Ramblers, Turpin's Trail, which is in three interlinked sections between Thaxted and Hempstead, had been restored and re-waymarked, with detailed directions provided on the group's website.

But at a meeting in

January, Uttlesford District Council's planning committee approved the development of a solar farm on 130 acres of agricultural land near Turpin's Trail, south of the B1051 at Terriers Farm in Boyton End, Thaxted. It will adjoin an existing solar farm which already covers some 70 acres of land. At its peak, the farm will generate 44mw of electricity,

powering approximately 13,100 homes. The local paper, the Saffron Walden Reporter, said that a group of concerned Thaxted residents while supporting renewable energy, believed that the adverse effects of the proposed solar farm on the local landscape far outweighed the benefits that it created. They felt that no examination had been undertaken of alternative options.

One wonders about the residents' reaction and are they using Turpin's Trail to protect their own interests? The proposed solar farm does not cut across any footpath and is three miles from Thaxted. Uttlesford Ramblers were contacted by a local resident and asked to object but decided not to do so, principally because no footpath diversion was involved.

As we seek to mitigate the effects of fossil fuel-induced climate change, weighing protection of the landscape against the need to produce more renewable energy will become an interesting dilemma. Many of us will not find it easy to take sides.

Mike CannellEssex Area Media Officer

Solar farm threat alleged to Turpin's Trail

Peter Rookes presents a certificate to Brian Smith of West Essex Ramblers. Photo: Mike Cannell

Gordon Bird and Alan Goffee received a certificate on behalf of all the Area's Footpath Secretaries. Photo: Mike Cannell

ESSEXextras

As ramblers we all come across occa siona l problems on footpaths,

ranging from issues which make paths completely impassable to issues which merely cause us minor inconvenience. I suspect that many of us do not report these issues to the relevant highway authority either because we don't know how, don't find the time, or maybe feel that nothing will change! My recent experience hopefully might provide an example which demonstrates that reporting problems is worthwhile and that we should

all play our part in ensuring that our public rights of way network remains accessible and in good condition.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives dramatically including the cessation of Ramblers group walks which we all enjoy. We need to ensure that we remain active whilst keeping to the government advice to Stay Home: Protect the NHS: Save Lives. At the time of writing the advice allows a once-daily walk, run or cycle.

During the lockdown, my wife and I have taken our daily exercise by walking from our home on

local footpaths. There are several possible circular walks and we met very few other people using the public rights of way. When we passed others it was easy to keep at least the minimum recommended distance apart and people we've met have been very considerate.

On one morning we came to a stile with a notice which read 'the gate has been locked until further notice to prevent the spread of Covid-19'. Thus a short section of a public right of way across a small paddock had been blocked and we wondered if this might be the first example of a problem which may be repeated elsewhere in the country.

That afternoon I reported the problem on the Essex County Council website and received an automated response acknowledging this and saying it

would be assigned to an officer for investigation and might take up to 56 days. To my surprise, I received a second, personalised, email later that same afternoon from the Public Rights of Way Enforcement and Liaison Officer at Essex Highways. The email asked for more details and, after a couple of further email exchanges, we clarified the nature and location of the problem.

The very next morning, I received a final email stating that the officer had spoken to the landowner and agreed that the signs be removed and the gate unlocked. I have subsequently used the path and confirmed that it is open.

The efficiency and effectiveness of the Highways Team in resolving this issue was very impressive and they are to be commended.

The reporting tool on the Essex Highways website is very simple to use and can be found at https://www.essexhighways.org/transport-and-roads/tell-us/report-prow.aspx.

Geoff SharmanChair, Brentwood Ramblers

In praise of Essex County Council

This sign was soon removed. Photo: Geoff Sharman

South East Walker June 2020 15

As the Epping Forest Consultative Committee enters its second year I

thought it would be useful for Ramblers members to know more about its role and how it functions. I am one of its voluntary members with a keen interest in Epping Forest where I lead walks twice a week and have lived for most of my life.

After some controversial decisions over the forest's management a few years ago, a formal consultative committee of interested volunteers from a wide range of people and organisations interested in the management of Epping Forest was formed. These representatives were selected from applications made by local and national groups with an interest in the forest and cover a wide range of interests like nature conservation, horse riding, golfing, walking/education (me) and many others.

The committee meets in public three times a year, normally in

Loughton (the next meetings are scheduled for 10 June and 21 October if you would like to attend) with the Superintendent of Epping Forest, senior forest management team, verderers and members of the City of London Corporation's open spaces committee. An extensive report on past activity and future plans is discussed with the committee with any comments used to help finalise plans for a final decision by the City of London Corporation, which manages the forest

When talking about the protection from development, I think it's important to stress

that whilst the land owned by the City of London Corporation is well protected, developments in surrounding areas can be just as much a threat to the ecology and feel of the forest as building on it.

I hope Ramblers members with an interest in Epping Forest will consider attending meetings of the consultative committee or let me know (robertlevene@hotmail.co.uk) of concerns over Epping Forest, so often described as 'London's Lungs'. For more information on the committee go to http://democracy,cityoflondon.gov.uk/mgConsultationDetails.aspx?ID=1253.

Robert Levene

Consulting on Epping Forest

La PalmaOn 7 March, 27 walkers

from Henley & Goring Ramblers arrived on

La Palma (one of the Canary Islands 150 miles off the coast of Morocco, not the capital of Majorca!) after a four-

hour flight. A very short bus ride brought us to our hotel, one of the H10 chain.

We had six great days walking, led by Alie and Wim, some days with both a hard walk and a slightly easier walk. On the first day's walk,

we all took the same route. This was a big walk down the central crest in the south of the island. It was a great introduction to the landscape. It started amongst Canary Pines then, after a few miles, followed a dusty route through a blackened volcanic landscape. It was amazing that any vegetation could survive here, but a few small bushes did, as well as some pines. The last eruption on La Palma was in 1971 and was in this region of the island. Most people managed time for a cold beer or similar at the end of the walk before the coach picked us up.

Probably our most memorable walk started with a bus journey where we were split over two four-wheel-drive buses. Maybe we should have known what to expect when we were asked to spread ourselves out evenly between the two vehicles.

After a short tarmacked journey, we 'enjoyed' a bucking-bronco ride for about 30 minutes up a dirt track. Spontaneous clapping for the driver when we finally arrived without any whiplash injuries! The walk followed a slightly vertiginous path along a levada (water channel), which continued through 13 tunnels. Probably the first time many of our head-torches had been used. The final stretch descended through what is called a rainforest but was very dry when

we were there. Again, just enough time for a quick beer before we set off on the bus.

We had a brief panic just before we left when we heard that Jet2 had turned back flights on the way to Spain, including the Canaries. Our hotel closed a few days after we left, and our walks together that week may be the last for some time. That we had such a good time makes it doubly special because of this.

Richard DonnellyHenley & Goring Ramblers

BirminghamOur group's last walk

before the lockdown was a memorable one.

We went by train to Birmingham and had a fascinating walk around the older parts of the city and explored some of the canals. The city was the hub of the canal network and is said to have more canals than Venice. Canals played an important role

too for Birmingham's chocolate manufacturer, John Cadbury, with cocoa from Ghana and cane sugar from the Caribbean transported by canal boats. We looked also at an amazing flight of locks on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, now deep below buildings. It was a great day out.

Mary GoughBicester & Kidlington Ramblers

Wish you were here?

Hiking on La Palma. Photo: Richard Donnelly

The Dark Ages - or, as historians now prefer, the early Middle Ages - were lawless and

dangerous times, with the continual threat of Viking invasion, especially on the east coast of England. Although historical accounts, usually written by monks long after the event, are unreliable it does appear that Byrhtnoth, Ealdorman of Essex, was a notable fighter against the Danish invaders.

Learning of a Danish invasion at Maldon he set off immediately from Ely to do battle with the invaders, where he met his death on 11 August 991, his head severed from his body in an Anglo-Saxon defeat. His death and the battle are commemorated in an Anglo-Saxon poem The Battle of Maldon (a translation is available on the internet). He was said to stand well over six feet in height, and was around the age of 60 at the Battle of Maldon, with "swan-white hair". His name is composed of the Old English bearht (bright) and noo (courage), and he is now celebrated in a statue at the end of Promenade Park in Maldon.

In 2005 Ramblers' stalwarts Derek and Jessie Keeble published a description of the route entitled Byrhtnoth's Last Essex Visit under the pseudonym of Laurence S Taylor. The route had previously been serialised in the East Anglian Daily Times in 1990-91. Readers may recall that the December 2019 issue of South East Walker led with an article about a battle over a footpath closure at Felsted Mill. When this became news, Derek Keeble contacted the article's author, Alan Goffee, with his support, adding that the Byrhtnoth route went close to Felsted Mill. This comment led to where we are today, making it possible not only to create the work of both Derek and his late wife Jessie, who were responsible not only for Byrhtnoth's route but for many others around Essex.

So far as the route itself is concerned it is speculated that recruiting his army as he marched from Ely at harvest time, the warrior may have used valley routes close

to the Great Ouse to Cambridge and then followed the Cam to reach Great Chesterford where the current route starts at the entry to the then Kingdom of the East Saxons, now Essex. Using existing footpaths, the route follows the Cam valley to Saffron Walden, crossing into the valley of the river Pant. Then near Wimbish, it follows the river Chelmer south via Thaxted and Great Dunmow to Chelmsford. Here the Chelmer turns east, joining the Blackwater (Panta in Byrhtnoth's day) to reach the head of the Blackwater estuary at Maldon, where the site of the battle is finally reached.

At the moment, the 49-mile route is not waymarked but Uttlesford, Maldon, and Chelmer & Blackwater groups of Essex Ramblers intend to formalise the situation and make the existing linked footpaths into an approved route. It is hoped that the work will begin shortly, Covid-19 permitting, The first stage will be to get agreement from Essex County Council to put up waymark discs. With surveying, possible diversions and installing waymark posts, the whole process could take a couple of years. Of course, a distinctive waymark will need to be designed and any ideas for this will be welcomed.

Mike CannellEssex Area Media Officer

michael.cannell@btinternet.com

Byrhtnoth's last march

Byrhtnoth's statue at Promenade Park, Maldon. Photo: Clare Griffiths

I had already learnt of Mike Roe's death last November but was so

pleased to see the tribute to him in the March issue of South East Walker.

I can endorse the mention of his valuable contribution to the establishment of the Round Aylesbury Walk. My photo (right) is one of several I took when we and travelled around the town in January 2001 fixing up the street signs and waymarks (by which time I'd

left for Worcestershire but was glad to be able to come back to Aylesbury to help finish off something I'd been involved with for several years).

For three or four years prior to that he and I had regularly roamed around the more remote parts of Aylesbury Vale doing our best to keep village pubs open in between doing a lot of waymarking. I'd like to think that these trips helped to inspire Mike's later fascinating and dryly-humorous articles about village life and buildings that are referred to in the tribute.

We kept in touch right up until early last year. He will indeed be sorely missed.

Clive BostlePresident,

Worcestershire Area RamblersSecretary, Aylesbury &

District Ramblers 1988-98

More on Mike Roe

Mike Roe waymarking the Round Aylesbury Walk in January 2001.

Photo: Clive Bostle

Walkers in Epping Forest. Photo: Sylvia Hayes

16 South East Walker June 2020

Created by Sussex-born composer Damian Montagu and inspired by the South Downs, A Walk

Into Reverie released earlier this year is a follow-up to his 2016 classic chart hit In a South Downs Way which featured actor Hugh Bonneville.

The eleven compositions are led by Damian with strings performed by the Tippett Quartet and piano by Rob Sword, with brass arrangements and performances by ex Paul Weller trumpeter

Stewart Prosser, who co-produced the album.

Said Damian: "This is a wondrous space for me. I derive so much pleasure and a deep sense of calm by walking alone in the landscape of the South Downs. It is during immersion in this tranquillity and stillness that the melodies come to me. I very much hope that this album will help to transport people to the kind of peaceful and reflective space that I find myself in whilst visiting it."

Details on the music and how to buy it can be found at https://walkuponengland.com (Walk Upon England is a celebration of the English countryside as a source of creativity in music and the spoken word). The digital (rather than CD) version has a continuous mix of the album which is designed to evoke the sensory feeling of walking in the downland landscape so should be perfect at the moment for all those who are struggling to get out into the great outdoors.

Inspired by the South Downs

Composer Damian Montagu

2019 was a good year for North Bucks rRIPPLE (ramblers Repairing &

Improving Public Paths for Leisure & Exercise). Our goal is to make the paths of North Bucks more enjoyable and safe for walkers by replacing poorly maintained stiles with steel gates.

The team expanded to nine members, which meant it was quite possible to install two gates in a day or to ensure at least four people were always available when we could only work at one location; 58 gates were installed in 2019 helping the team reach and celebrate its 200th gate in the autumn.

This year began full of confidence and enthusiasm, with a good backlog of sites desperately needing upgrades

from damaged or dangerous stiles to gleaming, self-closing steel gates. How things can change! Earlier this year our team was getting out most weeks but the deterioration in weather made the work more difficult. Finding sites that were not underwater or inaccessible due to boggy fields was a great challenge.

This has sadly meant we only managed to install nine gates in the first quarter of 2020, our poorest start ever. Then, as we entered March, our optimism grew as the weather improved and 18 March saw the installation of a kissing gate in Whitchurch in a dry and rural location. Once again excitement at getting out and eating into our backlog of stiles lifted the spirits of the team. Unfortunately,

like so many other groups and organisations, coronavirus has put paid to our carrying out any more work until restrictions are lifted. However, this enforced incarceration has not prevented Bill and Jerry, our team's negotiators, from continuing to prepare a programme of jobs to work on once we can restart.

If you are aware of a stile in North Bucks you feel might be in need of replacement do feel free to contact Bill Piers directly on williamjsbpiers@gmail.com and take a look at the Donate a Gate scheme http://www.bucks-wmiddx-ramblersorg.uk/ donate-a-gate,html, a fine way to celebrate or honour somebody dear to you.

Charles BoonNorth Bucks rRIPPLE

Awash with opportunities

The 'before' and 'after' scenes at Whitchurch. Photos: Bill Piers

Rob Riddle, a member of White Cliffs Ramblers (and the group's unofficial photographer), sent in this lovely picture of what he calls his 'favourite tree', which was just beginning to bud, at Ripple, near Walmer, where he lives. In the background is Walmer Mill. Rob took the picture during his permitted daily exercise walk from his home during the coronavirus lockdown.

Favourite tree