Although the content of this page includes everything that was in the published programme for Spring 2004 the layout is different as the three column pages that were used for pages 1 and 2 in 2004 would be more difficult to read on screen than the single column format used here.

The club is approved by Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, 
Affiliated to the Ramblers Association Re istered Charit No. 306089

Dear Ramblers,

 

We have had another eventful quarter with lots of good rambles and socials.

The Christmas Dinner on 6
December in Spaghetti House was well attended and enjoyed by all.
The Christmas Ramble and Social on 14 December was up to the usual good standard.

Our group outside Lewes Station

There were thirty of us on the eight-mile walk, which was well planned and led by Paul Connolly. Just judging by the large number out, it was plain to see that many were building up an appetite for the buffet in the Royal Oak. The buffet meal was a lovely spread and such fantastic value at £5.50 per head. In the Royal Oak other members joined our group so that in total there was 48 of us. Our time in the Royal Oak was passed in a very happy way with good food and it was great to have the entire pub just for our group. We had a very successful raffle and I am very grateful to those that took part and also to those that contributed prizes.

 

The club's biggest social event of the year, being the New Year Party on 10 January was a great success.
There were a large number of us that attended and in the end every one of us was on their feet and joined in a circle and gyrating to the songs of Abba. There was a lot of dancing and music, which was quite diversified. Our DJ Ken Aguiar is a man we can rely on to provide us with the music that we like. Inspite of the diversified requests that he had to cope with he managed to keep us happy. It was also good to hear Phil Evans play his guitar and sing.

 

Lewes Walk. In January I managed to go on one of the longer rambles led by Phllip Groves.

 

The ramble was 15 miles In length and started at Lewes and finished in Berwick. It turned out to be a memorable day because it was so lovely. In spite of the cold, which had followed the snow from a few days earlier, it was a sunny day with a cloudless blue sky Philip led eleven of us into heart of the downs where we climbed many hills and saw some lovely views. In the afternoon whilst on a hiqh hill we saw a truly memorable sunset where we all stood in awe and watched a spectacular setting It was remarkable to watch the sun sink slowly in the horizon and then seemly gather speed before it finally disappeared. Our group was a jolly one where we not only walked a lot but also chatted a lot. I brought my camera with me and now have some photo's of that day, the first of which, taken outside the station on arrival at Lewes is shown avove and some more are below just before the list of forthcoming rambles. Philip is a leader that particularly likes the long and testing rambles. I might add that the ramble was a mere stroll for him as he is more used to climbing the Pyrennees I asked Philip If he ever lost a rambler and his reply was no. However he did explain to us that there was one occasion where the weather conditions were so bad that there was one rambler who decided to turn back whilst Philip's brave group forged through the blinding sleet which was coming horizontally towards them. 

 

Presently Philip is keen to lead a group for a weekend in France. To achieve this he would require a couple of people with cars who would be prepared to take some walkers with them. Philip knows France fairly well together with the language and I'm sure it could be a very good weekend

 

Coming Events

 

Day of Recollection 7 March 2004 This will be at St Mary Moorfields and will start at 11.00am with a talk by Fr. Peter Newby. which will then be followed by Holy Mass. The cost to attend is £6.00 and should be sent in advance to the Treasurer or paid at the door. For lunch you can
bring food or buy it near by As many of us as possible should make an effort to attend as it should be an important day in our calendar.


Easter Break in Whitby 10 to 17 April 2004. The details were supplied in the last programme and it appears that accommodation in
Whitby is usually booked up well in advance. If you are still interested and lucky you may still be able to get accommodation. Maunce Hickman called me to let me know that Maxine O'Reilly one of his group is unable to attend his Easter Walk. Maxine has paid a deposit on accommodation and if someone is interested then they should contact her.

 

Holiday in Northumberland 13 to 24 May 2004

Dorothy Hickman is arranging a holiday staying in Berwick on Tweed ( 1 night) Lindisfarne (4 nights ) and Seahouses (6 nights )
Contact Dorothy.


Meeting at Royal Festival Hall 7.00pm 1 & May 2004 with Hania to discuss fund raising for CAFOD.

 

Summer Picnic 3.00pm 19 June 2004

Please make a note in your diaries for this event which will be held on the Bandstand in Queens Park W9. There will be strawberries and cream followed by a meal and a dance in the Corrib Rest. The meal will cost roughly £7 and it would be good to have an idea of numbers before hand. Please call me if you are coming for the meal.

 

60th Birthday Celebration

Tony Finnegan is hoping to celebrate his Birthday by leading a (by his standard) short walk on Sunday 20th June. Then on the following Saturday with some food and refreshments in St Boniface Church Hall, Tooting in the context of the normaI Saturday dance at the dub. Club members will be invited and there will be more details in the next newsIetter.

 

Walking Holiday in Ireland 1 July 2004

Each year in Castlebar there is an International Walking Event for Four days. I have booked to go and I understand that accommodation gets booked up quickly. If you are interested then
refer to www.castlebar4dayswaJks.com and I would be delighted to have some club member's share this event with me.

 

The Chester Pilgrimage 14 - 24 August 2004.

This is an annual Ecumenical pilgrimage, which is often cornpleted by some of our members. I think it is great especially for those looking for an enjoyable spiritual experience coupled with a walking holiday at a cost of £120. Further information is available from www.thepilgrims.org.uk

 

 Club's 75th  Anniversary

To mark the event there is a holiday to Assisi/Palazzola 4 to 11 June 2005. The interest for this holiday is still growing (20 at last count) and I have even booked myself in for the experience.
There is still time for interested members to book before the end of May 2004. Please contact
Barbara Bridle.

 

Park Place Pastoral Centre, Fareham August Bank holiday weekend 2005. The cost of this weekend is not yet available but Anne Dunne can take bookings. Anne wishes to thank Hania. Witold, Maureen Furlong and Frank Bigg who have volunteered to help her with the walkouts for August Bank Holiday Weekend. Please contact Anne Dunne for details.

 

Celebratory Mass 6.0pm 8 Oct 2005

Bishop Bemald Longley has agreed to say Mass for us at St Mary MooIfields. This date is close to the anniversary of St Francis and also the date of our AGM . it also seems fitting that the club should celebrate its patron saint's anniversary in this way.

 

Additional walks

If you feel that the main walk on Sunday is too long then please phone Hania or Witold for a short walk. 

If you fancy an occasional midweek walk then please contact Dorothy Hickman

 

New Members.

 

Monica Loy of Worchester Park, Elizabeth Arrow of NW1.
Congratulations to John Burbage, Ranald Watson and Catherine Fahy on becoming life Members.
Congratulations and best wishes to Margaret Guye who Is expecting her baby in April.

 

The Chester Pilgrimage14 - 24 August 2004.

This is an annual Ecumenical pilgrimage, which is often cornpleted by some of our members. I think it is great especially for those looking for an enjoyable spiritual experience coupled with a walking holiday at a cost of £120. Further information is available from

www.thepilgrims.org.uk

 

Club's 75th  Anniversary

To mark the event there is a holiday to Assisi/Palazzola .4 to 11 June005. The interest for this holiday is still growing (20 at last count) and I have even booked myself in for the experience. There is still time for interested members to book before the end of May 2004. Please contact
Barbara Bridle

 

Park Place Pastoral Centre, Fareham August Bank holiday weekend 2005. The cost of this weekend is not yet available but Anne Dunne can take bookings. Anne wishes to thank Hania. Witold, Maureen Furlong and Frank Bigg who have volunteered to help her with the walkouts for August Bank Holiday Weekend. Please contact Anne Dunne for details.

 

Obituaries

 

Jack Smeaton one of the cIub’s first members died recently after a stroke. He helped the club a lot during its early years and also contributed much to the writing of the history of the dub. His son John is the National Director of SPUC end the edition of The Catholic Universe on 1 August 2004 featured a report about the trouble the family had wiIh the hospital to ensure Jack continued to receive nourishment. His sister Norah was a club member unti she died in 1992 and his brother was also  a member until he was killed during the war.

 

Dennis Toohig died 2 Dec 2003: Dennis had a long and happy association with the club and will be sadly missed  especially by his wife KathIeen and family. 

 

Sad news has reached me that HeIen Fox has died. Helen who also had a long and happy association with the club from 1964 and had at one time served as Club Secretary. There were a number of occasions in the nineties where her famiIy entertained the club in grand styIe. She aIso will be sadly missed.

 

Items for next newsletter should reach me 9 th May 2004.


God Bless and 

 

Happy Rambling

 

 

Club Committee Members 2003/2004

 

(Please note: Addresses and telephone numbers are not included in this  internet version of the programme)  

 

 

President:                                                         VIce President: HeIen Hunt.

Fr Peter Newby 
Parish Priest.

St Mary Morfields.4-5 EIdon street. London
EC2M 7LS  

 

Secretary: Bill O’Neill                                        Treasurer: GiIIian McLauchlan,

 

Ramble List Compiler: Tony Norton.                  Membership secretarles:

                                                                           Tony Finnegan.

                                                                            Margaret Moran,

 

Social Secretary                                                  Committee Members:

Hania Poniatowska,                                             WitoId SokoIowski,

Cmmittee Members                                              Catherine Scott.

 

Walk which Philip Groves led on 18 January 2004 which started at Lewes and took us through the Sussex Downs.

 

 

Philip Groves in the lead followed by Odile
Rimbert,Marie Fernandes,Martha Haworth,
Lynette O'Souza, Martin Harrison Kevin Doyle,
Alison Clarke, John Haworth

 

 

 

 

Philip Groves group stopped for a rest and to
take in the panoramic views,

 

 

 

 

Taken at the lunch stop in the Abergavenny Arms, Rodmell. Of Marie Fernandes, Philip
Groves, Odile Rimbert and Lynette O'Souza

 

There are some more photos of the Lewes Walk and of the New Year Party 2004 and they can be viewed on the "Members Photos" page of the website.

 

"Publicising the Club: Many thanks to those who have put up the new notice showing the current year's membership secretaries in their local Churches, It is clear from the number of enquiries that the new notices are
being used.  If you need some more please contact one of the membership secretaries on the numbers shown on Page 2 or you can text Tony Finnegan on 0780 304 2748"

RAMBLE LIST AND NEWS        MARCH - MAY 2004

 

Note from Ramble List Compiler: A Baptism of fire for me. I would like to thank everyone who has offered me help and support. Especially those who have provided walks. My special thanks to Helen, Tony & Bill for coming to my rescue with membership lists.

Lastly please could I have walks for the summer Programme by 9th May 2004.

 

MARCH 2004

 

SATURDAY 6th March 2004  (os map166 & 167)        Leader Robert Slater

MEET           : Liverpool Street 0930 for 10.03 train to Broxbourne arr 10.30

LUNCH        :  Sun Inn Broadley Common Nazeing

TEA             :  Waltham Abbey

DISTANCE  :    10 Miles Returning from Cheshunt

FARE           :£4.05p cdr Broxbourne with network card

 

SUNDAY 7th March 2004 

Day of Recollection - see above

 

SUNDAY 14th  March 2004 (os map Explorer 147)  Leader: Paul Brunning

MEET         : Victoria 10.10 for 1026 train to Eynsford (arr 11.11)

LUNCH      :    The Crown Shoreham

TEA            :    Eynsford

DISTANCE :   10 Miles Returning from Eynsford

FARE          :   £5.90 cdr Eynsford with network card

 

 

SUNDAY 21st  March 2004 (os map 187)         Leader: Maurice Hickman

MEET            :  Victoria 0910 for 0934 train to Horsham (arr 1049)

LUNCH         :   Black Horse Nuthurst

TEA              :   Lynd Cross Horsham

DISTANCE   :   9 Miles returning from Horsham

FARE            : £11.40 cdr Horsham

 

SUNDAY 28th March 2004 (os map Explorer 135 & 147)  Leader Paul Brunning

MEET         :  Charing Cross 0930 for 0950 train to Tonbridge (arr 1044)

LUNCH       :  The Royal Oak Lanes Haysden

TEA            :Tunbridge Wells (optional)

DISTANCE : 10 Miles returning from Tunbridge Wells

FARE          :  £7.80 cdr Tunbridge Wells with network card

 

APRIL 2004

 

Sunday 4th April 2004 (os map landranger 186)          Leader Phil Evans

MEET             :  Waterloo 0915 for 0939 train to Bentley (arr at 1059) 

LUNCH          :  Three Horse Shoes East Wordham
TEA                :  NO
DISTANCE     : 13 miles returning from Bentley
FARE              : £ 10 cdr Bentley with network card

 

GOOD FRIDAY 9th April 2004 

 

Short Walk (os map 187)                                       Leader: Helen Hunt
MEET          : VICtoria 0930 for 1004 train to Three Bridges (Arr1045)
LUNCH        : The Cowdray Arms, serves good food. No eating of own food                          or drinking own drink anywhere on pub premises. 

TEA             : NO  
DISTANCE : 8 Miles returning trom Three Bridges
FARE          : £6.95p cdr Three Bridges with Network Southeast Card                                   discount 

 

Long walk(os map 187)                                         leader: Tony Finnegan

MEET                : London Bridge 0820 for 0840 train to Balcombe (Arr 0920)

LUNCH              : The White Hart. West Hoathley(GR 347333). Serves food;                              no eating of own food or drinking own drink anywere on                                  pub premises

TEA                   : No

DISTANCE        :13 Miles returning from Three Bridges (9 miles before                                     Good Friday Service at Worth Abbey where we will join                                    those taking the short walk

FARE                : £6.80pCDR Balcombe with Network Southeast Card                                       discount.

                              NB The long walk from Balcombe will encounter some                                     mud so it is advisable to carry house shoes or slippers to                               change into for the Service at Worth Abbey Church.

 

EASTER MONDAY 12th  April 2004  (os map 188)     Leader: Tony Norton

MEET              : Charing Cross 0850 for 0915 train to Tunbridge Wells                                     (Arr. 10.11)

LUNCH            : Crown Groombridge

TEA                 : Tunbridge Wells

DISTANCE      :  Perhaps 10 Miles or slightly more Returning from                                            Tunbridge Wells

FARE               :  £5.10 cdr Tunbridge Wells with network card

 

Sunday 18th April 2004                          Leaders: John and Marta Haworth
MEET            :Waterloo 0820 tor 0845 train to WitJey arriving at 0937

LUNCH         :The Sun Dunfold

TEA              :Wormley

DISTANCE   :15 Miles Hilly in the afternoon Returning from Witley

FARE            :£7.85 cdr Witley with network card

 

Sunday 25th  April 2004 (os map 187)Leaders: Philip Groves and Odile Rimbert

MEET         : Victoria at 0810 for 0832 train to Balcombe arr 0922

LUNCH       :The Oak Inn Ardingly (good food)
TEA            : We'see!
DISTANCE : 14 Miles returning from Balcombe
FARE          : £7.60 with network

 

MAY 2004

 

SUNDAY 2nd May (os mapExp 161)            Leader: Witold Sokolowski

MEET           : Waterloo 0930 for 09 48 train to Teddington arr 1017

                       Stopping at Clapham Junction and Wimbledon

LUNCH        : Pembroke Lodge

DISTANCE  : 10 Miles returning from Wimbledon

TEA             : Wimbledon Windmill

FARE           : Buy 6 Zone ticket

 

 

SUNDAY 9th May(os map 197)                        Leader: Maurice Hickman

MEET               : Victoria at 0840 for 0904 train to Billinghurst for 1015 start

LUNCH            : Cricketers Arms Loxwood Rd Wisborough Green

TEA                  : Bridge Inn Amberley   .

DISTANCE       : 16 Miles returning from Amberley or 10 miles returning                                     from Pulborough. In the afternoon the Wey South path to                               Amberley. Terain fairly flat

FARE                 : £10.55 with network card from Amberley

 

Sunday 16th May (os map Landranger 197)                                  Leader: Phil Evans
A good long solid day's walk

 

MEET             : Victoria 0840 for 0904 train to Amberley (arr 1025)

LUNCH          :3 Moles Selham no food at (All welcome to eat own food in bar)
DISTANCE    : 20 miles        Returning from from Amberley 
FARE             : £10.55 with network card from Amberley.

 

Short Alternative Walk                                                       Leader: Witold Sokolowski

 

MEET          : Wimbledon station 10 30 for train or bus to Norbiton
LUNCH        : Pembroke Lodge
TEA             : Richmond
DISTANCE  : 6 leisurely miles returning from Richmond
FARE           : Travel card to indude zone 6, up £4.70 with Network Southeast card

 

Sunday 23rd May (os map Explorer 160)                       Leader Peter Macdonald

MEET               : Paddington at 09 45 for 10 18 train to Windsor change at Slough

                           Arr at Windsor 1006

Lunch               : Sun nr Saville Gardens exit from park
TEA                   : Windsor

DISTANCE        : 9 Miles Returning from Windsor
FARE                 : £6.50 cdr Windsor

 

(This walk goes through Windsor Great Park by special permission of the Superintendent of Parks at the Crown Estate Office. There Is an explicit condltJon making members of the group personally responsible for any damage, loss or injury which we hope will not arise).

  

SUNDAY 30th MAY 2004 (os map Explorer 174)                   leader T any Norton

MEET               : Liverpool Street 0810 for train to Hertford east arr 0905

LUNCH            : The Crown Broxbourne

                           Walk along the full length of ~ lee Valley waterway to Bow
DISTANCE       : 27 Miles a good long flat but interesting walk

FARE                : £7.40 cdr Hertford East with network card

 

Monday 31st May Bank Holiday (os map 166)              Leader: Tony Finnegan

 

MEET         :  Euston 9 15 for 9 41 train to ApsIey arriving at 10 16  
LUNCH       : The Windmill, Chipperfield Common. Does good food. Common nearby to eat
                      your own.

TEA             : Hemel Hempstead
DISTANCE  : 8 miles Returning from Hemel Hempstead.
FARE           : £5.55 COR Hemel Hempstead with Network South East card reduction.

 

Please ensure you bring your Network cards or Gold cards so that you can get the 1I3rd off full fares for yourself and up to three guests travelling with you. You can also get 50p off all zone travel cards even if purchased at underground stations.

Unless otherwise indicated the fare shown is the fare from the London tenninus to our
destination. Most people can get a reduction by using a travel card for part of the journey.

Don" forget Sunday train Services can be affected by engineering works. Infonnation on these can be obtained by calling 08457484950 or see National Rail Website at www.nationa/rail.com