Secretaries Report

A great deal of ingenuity and imagination has been forthcoming from amongst our members over the past six months in devising routes for our social walks that went away from farmland.

We've had a unique towpath walk which was strewn with bus stops, tube stations, train stations and a hovering chauffeur for Avril and Janet; on this one we started with nineteen and finished after twenty eight miles with a hard core group of six! I gave up after twenty, those pavements were very hard on the feet you know!

Also there was a memorable beach walk with a bird sanctuary section, followed by a swimming session, followed by a pub lunch, culminating in a memorable champagne tea back at the leaders' house afterwards, thank you once again Peter and Elaine.

Then there was 'Downsman Revisited' in which Janet contrived to keep along the ridges for most of the way and on enclosed paths and tarmac for the short section before and after the White Hart in South Harting.

These are just a few examples of how we have been able to keep a regular programme of social walks going through these troubled times, lets hope we can return to some sort of normality soon.

On a recent Sunday I got up early and drove down to Alfriston to meet up with Phil Green who had agreed to lead a social walk along the Seven Sisters Downs route........ nothing unusual I hear you say, why am I rabbiting on so? On this beautiful sunny morning Phil was joined by just four members!! This I find very strange.... Where was everybody? I know there are some good reasons, quite a few had only just got back from holidays on the previous evening; some members had also got various aches and ailments and could not get there for very good reasons; that still leaves about sixty of us who never show up!

I would love to know where we are going wrong? maybe people just like to sit at home watching videos of walks they've done in the past like Wainwright's Coast to Coast or The West Highland Way. Anyway, a very small group of us enjoyed a really memorable walk on this particular Sunday with a pub stop at the Tiger Inn at West Dean followed by a brilliant afternoon trek westwards to the Cuckmere Estuary with a cup of tea at Exceat before returning uphill to the Frog Firle carpark.

It would be just great if, once again we could get back to a situation when our walk leaders could turn up at the start to find a group of twenty or more waiting to GO GO GO!!

Please let me assure those of you who may be reticent about returning because of concerns about annoying the farming community in Surrey; all our leaders make a point of walking out the route beforehand just to make sure that it does'nt encroach upon cattle grazing farmland.

During this epidemic Surrey farmland has not been effected and we, as a walking group are well aware of our responsibilities in helping to keep it that way.

Last week we had our usual Autumn planning meeting, this time, at the Drummond Arms in Albury. A good pub this one, they let us use the restaurant free, and then afterwards, those who choose to stay on had supper, this proved to be very popular, their prices are reasonable, they are known by CAMRA and so we have booked again for the AGM in January.

The main topic on the agenda this time was challenge walks, more particularly our Surrey Group events which were discussed in detail, and for the benefit of our newer members they are listed below along with the organiser's name and phone number:

1. Dunsfold Kanter (Brian Haigh: 01483 303020)
2. Punchbowl Marathon (Keith Chesterton: 01483 563392)
3. Surrey Inns Kanter (John Lay: 01932 346596)
4. Surrey Summits (Tony Cartwright: 01483 503768)
5. Winter Tanners (John Westcott: 01276 856672)

It's fair to say that this programme will be seeing some radical changes in the not to distant future. The Summits in its present format will cease trading after its 25th anniversary next April, it may resurface as a shorter one day event, who knows? time will surely tell.

It can be said that all these events have proved to be very popular over the years and I think I'm right in saying that we, as a Group are unique in having as many as five, most of them happening during the first four months of the year.

The problem now is that all the organisers, some of whom have been doing it for twenty years or more feel that the time has come for some new 'rising star' to come along and take over. This therefore is an appeal to any of our members out there who may just have a hankering, a secret ambition perhaps, just to run one of these events, to give up just a little of your spare time and to come along and take over, you will be given plenty of support and advice, if that's what you want, on how to run a successful event and at the end of the day you will experience tremendous satistfaction. Please feel free to 'phone any of the leaders listed above who will he delighted to give you more detail.

Midsummer Walk - Wednesday 20 June

On Wednesday evening, the 20th June some seventeen members set off from the Cartwright home at 7.00pm sharply to complete the seven mile midsummer walk in two and a half hours, on what turned out to be a splendid and sunny summer evening.

The walk took us through Onslow Village, with its very large tennis club, across the A3 to the top of the Hog s Back. A splendid view was had from the top of the escarpment down over the valley between Guildford and Godalming where the spires of Charterhouse School caught the evening sun in the distance.

Charterhouse - one of the six original foundation schools - was founded by Thomas Sutton, who s trust funds procured the original buildings in 1611 for £1,300. The original buildings were in Clerkenwell,London and it was not until 1872 that Charterhouse School moved to Godalming after the original trust was split. The hospital and the former school buildings still remain in Clerkenwell.

The walk continued down towards the Losely Estate and then west along the North Downs Way south of the Watts Gallery teashop.

We then crossed back up over the Hog s Back and down an enclosed track towards Flexford House, where a statue resembling an enthusiastic Bolshevik greeted us with metallic silence. We passed Blackwell Farm, crossed back over the A3 and back into Onslow Village to complete the walk at the Cartwright  s house.

The walk was timed to perfection and the potato supper went down extremely well.

Many thanks to the Cartwrights for laying on such a cosy evening and thanks to all those who contributed with desserts, home made wines and stimulating conversation. It was a superb evening much enjoyed by everyone.

Erling Hansen

Marley Borderlands - Thursday 14 June

This exploration of the woodlands of West Sussex started out from a small carpark perched on the edge with superb views over the area in which the walk would take place. fourteen intrepid walkers carrying GPS equipment, compasses, maps, whistles, and emergency food and drink, completed the round under the guidance of Peter Bull, buoyed up by the promise of good weather and with the information that all the paths in West Sussex were open. For some of the walkers this was new territory and for them it was truly an exploration, unforunately as so much of the walk was in woodland the exploration was limited to what could be seen from the footpath. Still, it was pleasant to be guided along the forest paths secure in the knowledge that if the leader got it wrong it was the leader who would recover the route.

The walk set out by immediately plunging from the heights into the depths down a very steep path. The route kept to the west of Fernhurst through woodland and farmland and then turned west to go over the top of Older Hill some will say it was the appropriate name for the hill given the average of the party! Here again there were some excellent views over the open landscape of Woolbeding Common. From Older Hill down through Redford and up over Titty Hill, from there it was a road walk to the pub in Milland for lunch. It was on this stretch that we came to doubt the County assertion that all footpaths were open because we found one with the dreaded sign. It may have been forgotten but then we were not going to ignore the notice....so along the road it was.

At the pub we enjoyed the joy of the landlady, we were the first group of walkers to call in for food and drink for many a month.

From the pub, the walk went north, climbing steadily to join the Sussex Border Path south of Liphook This path was to take us back to the carpark, but keeping to it was the problem. Insufficient signs coupled with multitudinous forest paths made route finding an interesting if at times frustrating exercise. In the end fourteen happy walkers had had an excellent day, in largely new territory just the right temperature, without rain and dry underfoot. Our thanks go to Peter Bull for the effort of planning the route beforehand and leading on the day

Peter and Betty Waterhouse

Downsman Revisited - Sunday 12 August

After a 'little' difficulty finding Butser Hill carpark, and being advised by Janet that this was her first walk as a leader, ten of us set off downhill towards the Queen Elizabeth Country Park.

The weather was overcast but did look as though it could change for the better..... it never did! but the temperature was good for walking.

On the far side of the Queen Elizabeth Country Park, approaching Buriton, who should be there but Reg Chapman with coffee and biscuits. A wonderful surprise and afterwards he was able to join us for the rest of the walk.

We then joined the South Downs Way passing the ruins of a folly in Upark House grounds and then headed down to South Harting for lunch at the White Hart. An excellent lunch and service and just fine enough to sit outside.

The return leg of the walk took us through some arable farmland and the Hangers Way. Reg managed to 'con' some of us into believing that his digital camera could predict what the enormous caterpillar, that he had photographed ,would turn into!!

The Hangers Way took us back to the Queen Elizabeth Country Park where we had tea and then, having started the walk downhill the inevitable consequence was to have to climb back up to the top of Butser Hill.

A thoroughly enjoyable day. Thank you Janet.

Elizabeth Bryan

Box Hill Wanderings - Wednesday 29 August

We may all know that due to traffic congestion, you have to allow plenty of time to arrive at the start of a midweek walk on time. Alas, on occasions , however hard you try, you are not successful, and this was certainly the case at the start of the Box Hill Wanderings. Our walk leader Mike, could not have been more patient in waiting for his troops to arrive, in fact, one walker failed to make it, so the party set off to find her with the help of a mobile phone and met up further down the road, alas while doing so managed to lose another walker! When we all finally gathered half an hour later, believe it or not, this proved to be a most successful and enjoyable day.

The weather was kind to us as we covered the face of Box Hill with its pretty wild flowers enhancing the green grass and then on to the old lime works for the historical readings. We passed the village of Betchworth and while walking through the churchyard in the hot sun, Richard tried desperately to dismantle his trousers into shorts, alas he only succeeded with one leg and remained so for at least a mile or more until we were permitted a drinks stop for two minutes or so near to Ricebridge Farm. We continued to Reigate Heath where we were rewarded with lovely clear views before reaching the Pilgrims Way to begin the ascent of Colley Hill. What a hill!! A very good training ground to get fit.

Lunch was enjoyed at The Sportsman in Mogador , where the eight walkers all sat outside and were pleasantly surprised to be joined by our old friend and fully paid up member Dave Challenger. Here also some of the party spoke on the mobile to our Chairman Peter Bull who was residing at a London hospital after a back operation.

The afternoon walk was short, fast but most enjoyable as we headed towards Walton Heath, and then on to Headley Heath, and then back to our leader's lovely home where we rested in the garden and were presented with a most delicious tea cooked superbly by Barbara. Indeed a memorable occasion. Many thanks to Mike for a great walk and to Barbara for a splendid tea very much appreciated by all.

Gillian Bull

Winter Tanners - Sunday 13 January 2002

As this event will be celebrating its Silver Jubilee anniversary it is expected that the turnout for this very popular challenge walk will be high. There will be two checkpoints to be manned and so this is an urgent request and indeed it is expected that members will volunteer their services as marshals if they are not taking part on the day.

Please contact John Westcott Tel: 01276 856672

NOTE: As the entry numbers for this event have proved to be very high, 'On The Day' entrants are requested to telephone John Westcott (01276 856672) prior to arrival.

Membership Crisis Looms

As of the last group meetingk our membership stood at just 86! In the words of the late and great Roy Orbison DO NOT DESRT ME OH! MY DARLINGS. To all of you who have not renewed yet, please send your two pounds to Reg Chapman now, OK? Thank You, Thank You, We love you all.