St Francis of Assisi Catholic Rambler's Club
The Club is approved by the Archbishop of Westminster.
Affiliated to the Ramblers Association and H.F. Holidays
www.stfrancisramblers.ukwalkers.com
Programme of Rambles and Events for March to May 2019
(Items for the next programme by early May please)
Greetings ramblers,
Just a reminder, ‘rail improvement works’ seem never ending. Notices of changes will go out as per usual, but please also check through www.nationalrail.co.uk and www.tfl.gov.uk prior to any rambles you want to come on.
One of our newer members, Derek Clarke, is starting to lead rambles. His first walk is on Saturday 4th of May covering an area which has been previously been unexplored by the club. Please make a special effort to take part and give your encouragement and support.
Now, amongst the able-bodied members who have still to step forward and lead, how about following Derek’s example? There is the summer programme coming up.
Have you paid your subs? If not, you will be taken off the programme distribution list. To check your payment record, please contact a Committee member.
The following rambles do not take place on a Sunday: 9th March, 13th and 19th April, 4th, 6th, 18th 25th and 27th May.
Sunday 3rd March Leader: Tom Gilmartin (Explorer maps 161 & 162)
Meet : Charing Cross 0930 for the 0946 train to Grove Park (arr 1012) Train also calls at Waterloo East 0949 and London Bridge 0955
Lunch : O’Neills, Beckenham
Tea : Crystal Palace
Distance : 9 Miles returning from Crystal Palace
Fare : Freedom Pass/Oyster/Travel Card options
Happily we have some photographs taken on this first walk on the Spring Programme and you can enjoy them by clicking HERE
Saturday 9th March Leader: Maurice Hickman (Explorer 146)
Meet : London Bridge 0950 for 1017 train to Caterham (arr 1058). Ramblers can also catch the 1009 train from Victoria to Purley (arr 1033) and change for the Caterham train there, departing 1045.
Lunch : Harrow, Whitehill
Tea : Church Walk. Near Caterham station.
Distance : 8 miles, hilly in the afternoon
Fare : Oyster/Freedom pass/Travelcard options
Photos taken on the above walk can be seen HERE
Sunday 17th March Leaders: Antoinette Adkins and Lizzie Cripps (Landranger 175)
Meet : Paddington Station 0850 for 0915 train to Twyford to catch the 1008 train to Henley on Thames (arr 1020)
Lunch : The Unicorn, Kingswood
Tea : Possibly Cafe St Louis
Distance : 12 miles returning from Pangbourne
Fare : £11.95 CDR Henley on Thames and single from Pangbourne to Twyford £4.40, both with railcards.
Photos taken on the above walk can be seen HERE
Sunday 24th March Leader: Angela Shardlow (Explorer map 120)
Meet : Victoria 0910 for 0933 train to Chichester (arr 1121)
Lunch : The Spotted Cow, Hunston
Tea : Chichester - Marina or City
Distance : 8 level miles returning from Chichester.
Shorter walk options if preferred, please ask Angela on the day.
Fare : £20.80 CDR with railcards
Angela will meet the ramblers at Chichester and advises for members who would like to come down but only do a little walking they can catch bus 51 at Chichester bus station for Hunston or back from there.
Sunday 31st March Leader: David Crundall (Landranger map 177)
Meet : Fenchurch Street 0955 for 1019 train to Purfleet (arr 1047). Train calls West Ham 1028 (Tube and DLR) and Barking 1034 (Tube and Overground)
Lunch : Rainham - cafes plus a large Tesco’s
Tea : Upminster
Distance : 9 level miles on mostly firm dry surfaces returning from Upminster.
Four mainline trains per hour plus District line back to London.
Fare : Oyster/Freedom pass/Travelcard options plus £2.70 single Rainham to Purfleet with railcard discounts. PAYG Oyster is valid to Purfleet but other pass holders will need to buy the ticket
from Rainham. David will join the train at West Ham. There are no Mainline ticket facilities there.
Sunday 7th April Leader: Maria Vaz (OS Explorer maps 172 & 181)
Meet : Marylebone 0930 for the 0957 train to Chorleywood (arr 1024)
Lunch : The Crown, Ley Hill
Tea : Let’s see…
Distance : 10 miles in the Chilterns: rolling hills, woods and villages. Expect
some muddy paths after wet weather. Returning from Chesham
(direct Metropolitan line services to Baker Street and beyond)
Fare : Oyster card/Freedom Pass options
Some photographs taken on Maria's walk can be seen HERE
Saturday 13th April Leader: Kevin MacNamara (OS Landranger 176)
Please note the outward travel arrangements for this ramble have changed since the programme was circulated and are now as follows:
Meet : Waterloo, under famous clock on concourse, at 10 15 (NB NOT 1030) for 10 39 (NB NOT 1045) train to Clapham Junction arriving 1047. Then connect with the 1058 (platform 5) to Richmond - arr 1106.
Lunch : The Boaters Inn, Kingston, on riverside. Benches nearby for anyone bringing a picnic.
Tea : Various options at Hampton Court.
Distance : 8 level miles from Richmond to Hampton Court along Thames Path. Could be muddy in parts. The morning walk will be south of the river. The shorter afternoon walk will be north of the river.
Fare : Oyster/Freedom pass/Travelcard options.
Some photographs taken on Kevin's walk can be seen HERE
Good Friday 19th April Leader: Maurice Hickman (Explorer 134/135)
Meet : London Bridge at 1010 for 1036 train to Three Bridges (arr 1114)
Lunch : Coaching Halt, Maidenbower
Tea : Snooty Fox, near Three Bridges Station
Distance : 7.5 miles
Fare : £8.25 CDR Three Bridges with railcard discounts.
Lunch will be early as we shall be attending the 3pm Good
Friday Service at Worth Abbey. Please do not wear your boots
when entering the church, bring clean footwear to change into or
leave your boots near the church entrance. Maurice will meet the
ramblers at Three Bridges
Some photographs taken on Maurice's Good Friday walk can be seen HERE
Sunday 28th April Leaders Ann Brooks, Virginia and Roger Yelland
(Maps: Explorer 181 or Landranger 165)
Meet : Marylebone 8.30am for 0857am train to Wendover (arr 0945am)
Lunch : NB Please note change from printed programme
Lunch will now be taken at The Plough at Cadsden (GR: 825044), the "local" for Chequers, where David Cameron seemed to like to take visiting dignitaries. Perhaps a little on
the expensive side? and not
The Red Lion, Whiteleaf (Grid: 819043), nr Monks
Risborough. Tea venue below is also a change from the
printed programme
Tea (and Cakes): at Ellesborough Church (the parish for Chequers) and
NOT Wendover (various options)
Distance : 11.5 hilly, energetic but rewarding Chiltern miles, returning from
Wendover. Little Hampden Common, Whiteleaf Cross, Beacon
Hill and Coombe Hill
Fare : £12.30 CDR Wendover. £5.35 Freedom pass/60+ Oyster from
boundary zone 9 Amersham. Both with railcards
Please call Roger if you would like more information
You can see some stunning photographs taken on the above Wendover Walk HERE
Saturday 4th May Leader: Derek Clarke (Explorer map 225)
Meet : Kings Cross at 0845 for 0916 train to St Neots (arr 1011). Train also calls Finsbury Park 0924 (Tube and Mainline services from Moorgate)
Lunch : The Offord Shoe, Offord Cluny
Tea : TBC
Distance : 11 miles along a series of pretty ponds and lakes at Paxton Pits
with a riverside stretch along the River Great Ouse to enjoy too
Fare : £12.00 CDR St Neots with Railcards
Derek will meet the ramblers at St Neots
Sunday 5th May Day of Recollection - please see Forthcoming Events.
Monday 6th May - Bank Holiday Leader: Robert Slater. (Landranger map 166)
Meet : King's Cross at 0930 for 0951 to Welwyn Garden City (arr 1023)
Lunch : The Swan, Wheathampstead
Tea : The Two Willows, WGC
Distance : 12 miles returning from Welwyn Garden City
Fare : £6.00 CDR Welwyn Garden City with railcard discounts
Robert will meet walkers at WGC.
Sunday 12th May Leader: John Sealy (Explorer map 161)
Meet : Victoria 0930 for 0946 train to Waddon (arr 1022). Train calls
Clapham Junction 0954 (Overground and National rail), and
Balham 1000 (Northern line).
Lunch : Abbey Mills. Choices of places to eat
Tea : Not today
Distance : 9 mile Wandle River Walk finishing at Wandsworth Town
Fare : Oyster/Freedom Pass/Travelcard options
You can see some stunning photographs taken on the above Wandle Walk HERE
Saturday 18th May Leader: Pauline Lobo (Explorer map 145)
Meet : Waterloo 0900 for 0923 train to Farnham (arr 1025)
Lunch : The Donkey, Charles Hill
Tea : Godalming
Distance : 13 miles returning from Godalming
Fare : £12.55 CDR Farnham plus £3.65 single Godalming to Woking. Both with railcard discount.
Walk includes the North Downs Way, the Greensand Way,
through open parkland of the Peper Harrow estate then along
the River Wey to Godalming
You can see some stunning photographs taken on the abve Farnham Walk HERE
Saturday 25th May Leader: John Burbage OS Landranger map 187
Meet : Victoria 0905 for the 0925 train to Boxhill & Westhumble (arr.
1019) Also train from Waterloo 0924 arriving 1011
Lunch : Royal Oak, Brockham. Pub provides a good range of mains
including small dishes and bar snacks. Local facilities available
for those with sandwiches
Tea : National Trust Centre, Box Hill
Distance : 12 hilly miles. Some steep sections
Fare : Boxhill & Westhumble CDR £7.25 with railcards Freedom
Pass/60+/Oyster holders extension £3.15 from Zone 6
John will join train en-route
You can see some stunning photographs taken on the above Boxhill Walk HERE
Monday 27th May - Bank Holiday Leaders: Lizzy Cripps and Antoinette Adkins
Meet : 1000 prompt start Blackhorse Road (Victoria Line and Overground
– Barking - Gospel line) visiting Walthamstow Wetlands
Coffee : Heritage Centre
Lunch : Picnic only
Tea : Walthamstow. Pubs and other eateries for hot food.
Distance : 8.5 miles returning from Walthamstow
Fare : Oyster/Freedom Pass/Travelcard options
You can see some stunning photographs taken on the above Walthamstow Wetlands Walk HERE
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Rambler's Club
News and Events for March to May 2019
Forthcoming Events
Sunday 5th May 2019: Day of Recollection. Roger Yelland has confirmed arrangements at the Poor Clares Convent at Arkley from 10.30am to 4.30pm, led by Fr Jesmond Pawley OFM (Conv), National Spiritual Assistant to the Secular Franciscan Order. Organised by the Secular Franciscan Order. Lifts by car will be provided from High Barnet station from 10am until 10.30am, and then lifts back to High Barnet at the end of the day, around 4.30pm. Lunch is provided. There is no charge for the event, but please make a donation to the Poor Clares on the day. Several members have attended this event in previous years. Please call Roger on 07910 358 646, to ensure there is enough food at lunch, as well as for transport to and from High Barnet if you prefer not to walk.
Three Day Mini Pilgrimage 4th-6th May 2019
This is a taster walking pilgrimage mainly for people who have not experienced going on one before. Old stagers can also come. You will have to bring your own bedding but there will be a van to take what is not required on the walk to where you will be staying so you only need to take what you need for the day. Breakfast and evening meals are provided and lunch will be at a pub. More information will be available on the website www.thepilgrims.org.uk.
Refugee Tales walk: Saturday 6th to Wednesday 10th July 2019
This is a walk from Brighton to Hastings, staying en-route at Lewes, Alfriston, Eastbourne and Bexhill. There will be entertainment during the day and evening with talks and with music. The overnight accommodation seems to be fully booked but you can come along on a walk on one of the days although you have to book on their website. The price for a day pilgrim is £10. Travel information and booking arrangements are provided on the website www.refugeetales.org .
St Hilda's Pilgrimage Saturday 10th to Sunday 25th August 2019
This year the walking Pilgrimage will start from Lincoln Cathedral and fin
ish at Whitby. Accommodation is mainly in church and village halls so you have to bring your own bedding and sleeping bag. The cost of the whole pilgrimage is less than £200 which includes breakfast and evening meals and transport of your personal and bedding items. If you wish, you can book for any part of the pilgrimage and are thus not limited to coming for the whole two weeks. Lunch is usually at a pub. There will be two rest days en-route at Brigg and Bridlington. Two members of the Club will be leading on two of the days. Maurice will be leading the day from North Ferriby near Hull to Beverley and Francis from Beverley to Driffield.
For more information please visit www.thepilgrims.org.uk.
Peter Fraser R.I.P.
Peter died on the morning of Thursday 6th of December. He went into hospital on the Monday night with chest pains and on the following day seemed to be improving. However, on the Wednesday he had a severe heart attack and sadly, did not respond to treatment and the following morning passed away. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. His funeral was on Friday 4th January at St Anselm's Church in Tooting Bec with a reception afterwards at the United Services Club in Balham.
Club Committee 2018-2019
(Please note: Addresses and telephone numbers are not included in this internet version of the programme)
President: Fr Chris Vipers, Parish Priest, Membership Secretary
St Mary Moorfields, 4-5 Eldon Street, Antoinette Adkins,
EC2M 7LS
Secretary Ramble List Compiler
Maurice Hickman Paul Connolly
Treasurer Publicity
John Burbage David Crundall
Other Duties
Maria Vaz and Antoinette Connolly
There is still a vacancy for another female member to join the committee. We only meet 4 times a year and the duties are not onerous. Please, whether a recent or long-standing member, come along to one of our meetings and give it a try.
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