ANNUAL  REPORT for 2008

Prepared by the Group Committee

 

 

 

The Annual Report informs members of the work carried out by the committee and records events of the past year.  Committee members since the AGM in 2008 were as follows:  Robert Cheesman (Chairman) Jill King (Treasurer) Janet Goodall (Secretary and Membership Secretary) Bert Sharp (Walks Organiser) Jeannette Swayne (Publicity) David Kibble (Website) Colin Salvage (Footpaths) and Gordon Bull (Minutes Secretary)

 

Membership

 

We have been pleased to welcome 12 new members this year.  The number of annual members now stands at 137 and life members at 65.  Several new members have expressed willingness to assist with minor clearance work, with newsletter distribution or to lead a walk for which we are most grateful.

 

Treasurer’s Report

 

Finances have remained reasonably stable this year.  There was an overall deficit on holidays due to the adverse exchange rate when payment was made for the holiday in Ireland.  This amount would have been higher had it not been offset by small surpluses on other holidays.  A loss was also made on the New Year lunch because of a change in the venue’s policy on gratuities.  The actual amount of subsidy for coach trips was less than budgeted for when calculating costs.  Printing costs continue to rise.  The final balance shows a small decrease, when adjusted to allow for smaller amounts being held at the present time in holiday deposits.  Bearing in mind that last year’s balance included the building society windfall and that a similar amount has been paid out to the South Downs Campaign (as agreed at the AGM) the group’s finances remain in a healthy position.

 

Walks Organiser’s Report

 

There were 50 walks during the year, 43 half day and 7 all-day of which 10 utilised public transport.  There were two evening walks, one followed by supper and an early morning walk from Falmer to Lewes followed by breakfast.  Also included in the programme was the customary New Year’s Day walk and two autumn tints walks, one at Woolbeding, north west of Midhurst, the other at West Hoathly with the last walk of the year on Boxing Day morning across Chailey Common ending with refreshments at Grace Blaker’s home.

 

This year the New Year lunch was held at the Mid-Sussex Golf Club in Ditchling when fifty four members attended, many of whom enjoyed a walk led by the Chairman, Jill King, beforehand.

 

There were three coach trips, the first being the second half of the Medway Valley walk from East Farleigh near Maidstone to Rochester.  The second was to Highclere Castle, Newbury, which was designed by the architect of the Houses of Parliament and certain aspects are reflected in Highclere Castle.  The final trip was to Hampshire to walk part of the Test Way from Horsebridge, south of Stockbridge, to Romsey.

 

The Walks Organiser again wishes to express his sincere thanks and appreciation to all the leaders who so cheerfully respond to his great number of requests, with a special thank you to all those leaders who again this year undertook additional walks to ensure the Group enjoyed a continuous programme.

 

Group Meetings

 

We have enjoyed a number of interesting talks and events throughout the year.  Following the AGM Jeannette Swayne told us about her holiday on the Falkland Islands and showed us some amazing photographs.  In March Kate Dale gave us an informative talk on plans for the future of the Cuckmere estuary.  June saw us enjoying an informal skittles evening, with a buffet supper, at the Royal Oak in Barcombe and in September Geoff Meade entertained us with his presentation entitled Sussex on the Rocks.

 

Footpaths Secretary’s Report

 

As usual any problems concerned with footpaths encountered on our walks have been conveyed to the relevant authorities..  This year details of two such difficulties have been passed on to the ESCC Rights of Way department.

 

 

Publicity

 

This year the Group publicity has continued to attract new members.  Our programmes and walk’s books are always available at the Tourist Information Office and the sports shops in the town also hold our programmes

 

The Group had a publicity stand at the Society’s Fair in the Town Hall in July and much interest was shown in the information and photography which was displayed, especially that of the Meridian Walk

 

Our column in the Parish Pump of the Sussex Express keeps people informed of past and future walks and the Argus features information of walks to take place each week.  Information on all aspects of the Group is always available on our web site www.lewesfootpathsgroup.org.uk for which David Kibble is now responsible.  It includes reports submitted by walks leaders and holiday organizers, many incorporating photographs which are most welcome.  David would like to thank those leaders and events organizers who have submitted 35 reports for the Parish Pump column in the last year.

 

Holidays

 

16 members enjoyed a walking holiday on the Kerry Way  on the west coast of Ireland.  The holiday was arranged through the company Go Ireland, who provided the guide and took care of all the arrangements once we arrived in Ireland.  Over the seven days we had six days of varied walking from beach to mountain, through bog and forest, by river and across fields and all the while informed by one of the best leaders we have ever had.  Sean was a mine of information – historic archaeological, geological and on the local fauna and flora.  Not only that, he was one of the founders of the Kerry Way, the long distance path we walked on for a number of the days.  We were transported to and from the walks by minibus and returned to the hotel each day for dinner.  A very enjoyable holiday in a wonderful part of the world.

 

15 members took part in a four night holiday at Sidmouth in early July.  Walks, which were along sections of the South West coastal path between Branscombe and Exmouth, were planned for the mornings only so that there were opportunities in the afternoon to visit places of interest such as Bicton Gardens.  Another feature of the holiday was that, having arrived at Sidmouth, cars were not used as the bus services, for which most members had passes, were adequate to get to starting points or return from finishing points.

 

In early October 18 members went to Loxton for a three night holiday with walks by leaders from Ramblers Countrywide Holidays.  These took place in the limestone Mendip hills from which extensive views to South Wales and North Devon, as well as the Somerset levels, were obtained.  The old market town of Axbridge was visited by those undertaking a 12 mile walk one day, whilst some found the attractions of Cheddar more appealing than a formal walk the next day.

 

Meridian Walk

 

Our 6-day walk from the monument in Peacehaven to the Greenwich Observatory started out in a blizzard but somehow the group survived and happily after that the weather improved as we made our way towards Greenwich, covering between 8 and 13 miles each day, following the trail devised by Graham and Hilda Heaps based around the Meridian line.  We had one overnight stay in Bromley before following a surprisingly green route to our destination where we celebrated our achievement by taking photographs of the group standing astride the Greenwich Meridian.

 

Acknowledgements

 

Once again we would like to offer sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to the successful running of the Group during the year – members of the committee, walks leaders, holiday organizers, distributors of our mailings and those who help out at group meetings with refreshments and setting up the hall.  Without this input the group could not survive.