1930 - 2006
Programme of Events December 2005 to February 2006
Greetings Ramblers,
Well, there was NO NOMINATION for anyone to take the position of Club Secretary on the departure of Bill O'Neill after three years of sterling service. So the AGM on 9 October (see full report on later pages) took the desperate
option of electing me on a show of hands.
I want in this first newsletter of my year as secretary to change the focus and begin with the list of rambles. The Sunday rambles are the life blood of the club. I want to ensure that details of them are on the first page you see when you open your newsletter. The ramble list has been provided by Maurice Hickman who at the AGM was elected to replace Tony Norton as ramble list compiler. I have inserted among the ramble details any non rambling events that occur within the quarter, then follows a list of forward dates for your diary and finally any other comments you or I may want to make. I hope you find this will be useful in highlighting in date order the events you wish to
attend.
Maurice says a big 'THANK YOU' to all the members who sent in rambles to make this list possible. If you are one of the members who has not led a walk for some time please get in touch. If you haven't yet led a walk for the Club and would like to do so please also get in touch as Maurice has to hand a book of walks which start and finish at railway stations! This could be a first step to reading a map and leading your own walks and of course it is even more enjoyable if you walk out a ramble with other Club members. As your new Ramble List Compiler Maurice hopes he can count on everyone's support. Happy Christmas and a 'walkfull' New Year to you all.
Please let Maurice have ramble details for the Spring programme by 29th January
Sunday 27th November 2005 - correction
Please note that the CDR fare with Network Southeast card is £7.35 and not £10 as stated on the Autumn Programme.
Saturday 3rd December 2006 (Landranger 154) Leader Robert Slater
MEET : King's Cross 0930 for 0951 train to Cambridge (arr. 1052)
LUNCH : The Green Man, Grantchester
TEA : Cambridge after Advent choral evensong at 3.30pm at King's
College.
: Alternatively, you may prefer to do some Christmas shopping.
DISTANCE : 8 miles, returning from Cambridge.
FARE : £11.20 with Network Card.
Other Info. : There is Mass at 6pm at Our Lady and the English Martyrs en
route to the station.
Sunday 4th December 2006 (Explorer map 166) Leader Robert Slater
MEET :King's Cross 0945 for 10.06 train to Welwyn North (arr 10.34)
Robert will meet everyone at Welwyn North
LUNCH :The Tilbury (also known as Inn off The Green), Oatchworth
TEA :The Cowper Arms by Welwyn North station
DISTANCE :10 miles returning from Welwyn North
FARE :£5.60 CDR Welwyn North with network card discount
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Saturday 10th December 2005: Christmas Meal at Lowiczanka, The PolishCentre, 246 King Street, London W6 (very close to Ravenscourt Park Underground Station). Please arrive in time to be seated at 7 pm. NB You will need to have booked in advance and chosen what you want to eat from either Menu 1 or Menu 2 attached to this programme. You must choose everything from one menu and cannot take one thing from Menu 1 and another from Menu 2.
The price of Menu 1 will be £22 and Menu 2 will be £24.50, taking account of the compulsory cover charge of £2. The cost includes a glass of wine or vodka and there will be live music in the restaurant. Please ring Hania Poniatowska on 020 8543 5494 by 1 December and tell her
your choice of food. The restaurant really must know in advance what we are ordering.
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Sunday 11th December 2005 ( Explorer map146 ) Leader Maurice Hickman
MEET : Victoria 0945 for 1004 train to Redhill (arrive 10.37)
LUNCH : Mint Arms, Lower Kingswood (serves good Thai food at
reasonable price)
DISTANCE : 10 Miles returning from Redhill
TEA : Fanny's farm shop
FARE : £4.95 cdr with network card
Carol Service in the Belfry Shopping Centre, Redhill 7 • 8 pm. There will be time between the end of the ramble and the beginning of the Carol Service to lubricate the vocal chords in the The Sun pub.
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Sunday 18th December 2005 Christmas Walk Followed by Social.
Leader Paul Connolly
MEET :Highgate (Northern Line) 0945 for 1000 prompt start.
LUNCH :Princess of Wales, Lea Bridge Road, E5
TEA :Do you have to ask???!!!
Distance :9 miles finishing at the tea stop
FARE :one day travelcard up to £6.00
Boots advisable as there may be one or two muddy paths. This walk
takes in an interesting cross-section of inner London locations.
The walk will finish with our annual Christmas Social at the Royal Oak in Tabard Street, near Borough station on the Northern Line. See separate flyer enclosed with this Newsletter for full details.
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Tuesday 27th December2005 ( Explorer map 183) Leader Frank Bigg
MEET : liverpool Street 09 40 for 10.02 for train to Colchester (arr 11.12)
LUNCH : The Castle
TEA : Asda or in the station buffet
DISTANCE : 9 Miles returning from Colchester
FARE : £10.55 cdr with network card
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Saturday 7 January 2006. New Year Party at St Mary Moorfields. We have managed to book Canute's popular disco for this party which will commence after 6 pm Mass in St Mary Moorfields Church (for the benefit of new members St Mary Moorfields is at 4-5 Eldon Street which is immediately outside Liverpool Street Station - carry on past Platform 1 and up the ramp into Eldon Street). Bring food to share and your choice of drink and pay £4 on entry. Prizes for the raftle will be gratefully received.
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Sunday 8th January 2006 (Explorer map 147) Leader Paul Brunning
MEET : Charing Cross 0950 for 10.10 train to Sevenoaks (arr 10.45)
LUNCH : The Rock Inn Underriver
TEA : Sevenoaks
DISTANCE : 10 Miles returning from Sevenoaks
FARE : £5.80 cdr with network card
Sunday 15th January 2006 (Land ranger map 189) Leader Tony Finnegan
MEET : Victoria 0855 for 09 18 train to Charing (arr 10.40)
LUNCH : The Running Horse, Broughton and Aruph (GR014482)
(Pub does good food with seats nearby to eat your own).
TEA : Possibly Charing
DISTANCE : 11 easy miles returning from Charing
FARE : £10.55 COR Charing with Network Card discount
Sunday 22nd January 2006 (Explorer map 158) Leader Philip Evans
MEET : Paddington at 0925 for 0948 train to Twyford (arr 10.33)
LUNCH : The Bull Waltham St Lawrence (pub serves food)
TEA : None
DISTANCE : 10 Miles returning from Maidenhead
FARE : £6.50 cdr Twyford with network card
Sunday 29th January 2006 (Map 145) Leader Maurice Hickman
MEET : .Waterloo 09.10 for 09.30 train to Guildford arr (10.10)
LUNCH : Good Intent Puttenham
TEA : Guildford Cathedral
DISTANCE : 11 Miles returning from Guildford
FARE : £6.53 Cdr Guildford with Network card
Sunday 5th February 2006 (Explorer map 147) Leader Paul Brunning
MEET : Charing Cross 09 35 for 09.54 train to Tonbridge (arr 10.37)
LUNCH : Leicester Arms Penhurst
TEA : Leigh,"Fleur de Lys"
DISTANCE : 12 Miles returning from Tonbridge
FARE : £6.25 cdr Tonbridge with Network card
Sundav 12th February 2006 (Explorer Map 162) John & Marta Haworth
MEET : Charing Cross 0855 for 0916 train to Barnehurst (arr. 0955)
LUNCH : The White Cross, North Cray
TEA : Probably not
DISTANCE : 12 miles returning from Bickley
FARE : All Zone Travel Card (about £6)
Sunday 19th February 2006 (Land ranger map 187) Leader Helen Hunt
MEET : Victoria 0915 for 0936 train to Dorking (arr10.57)
LUNCH : The Royal Oak Brockham (GR198497) Pub does food. There are seats nearby to eat your own
TEA : Possibly Dorking
DISTANCE : 8 easy miles returning from Dorking
FARE : £5.30 COR Dorking with Network Card discount
Sunday 26th February 2996 (Landranger maps 188 and 187)
Leader Tony Finnegan
MEET : Victoria 0835 for 0856 train to Otford (arr 09.52)
LUNCH : The Old Ship, Tatsfield (GR415575) Pub does food. There are seats nearby to eat your own
TEA :Possibly Caterham
DISTANCE : 16 Hilly miles returning from Caterham. We hope to reach Caterham in daylight but better carry a torch just in case.
FARE : £4.80 all zone travel card plus £2.30 single to Otford (both prices include Network Card discount when ticket is bought at a station)
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Please ensure you bring your Network cards or Gold cards so that you can get the 1/3rd off full fares for yourself and up to three guests travelling with you. You can also get an all zone travel card for £4.80 using your network card at a rail or underground station.
Unless otherwise indicated the fare shown is the fare from the London terminus to our destination. Most people can get a reduction by using a travel card for part of the journey.
Don't forget Sunday train services can be affected by engineering works. Information on these can be obtained by calling 08457 484950 or see National Rail Website at www.nationalrail.com
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Future Dates for Your Diary.
We are always most grateful to people who come forward with plans for social events, holidays, weekends etc. It gives them great encouragement if a good number of members attend and bring their families and friends. So please note the following events, some beyond the period covered by this programme, in your diary and do your best to support them when the time comes.
Christmas Lunch at St Paul's Centre, Brentford, Middlesex - Date to be decided
Four course meal. Cost £12. Bring your own alcoholic drink if required. Menu details are on the back of the Christmas Social flyer enclosed with this Newsletter. Interested? Phone Maureen Furlong A.S.A. P. (or on her home phone if you have the number and are lucky enough to find her at home, I've never succeeded).
Sunday 26 March 2006 - Day of Recollection
This is an annual special day of prayer and reflection. It will be from 10 am to 4 or 5 pm. This time we return to the Benedictine Centre of Spirituality at Cockfosters and are fortunate to have Bishop James O'Brien to lead us in our reflections. The charge of £10 will pay for the costs of arranging the day and also lunch and refreshments during the day. You may also have your own food for lunch and we shall all eat together whether we have our own or partake of the food provided. Please send cheques for £10 (or £6 if eating your own food) payable to St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers Club to GillianMcLauchlan, and please make sure that she has them by 12 March so that we will know how many to ask the Centre to cater for.
Easter Break in Wells Next the Sea in Norfolk
Maurice Hickman is planning this Easter break. The likely dates are Wednesday 12th to Tuesday 18th April 2006 inclusive. You can travel to Wells by coach and bus or train and bus. Maurice will enquire as to the best way. Accommodation will be in a youth hostel. No meals served but you can
cook your own breakfast and eat out in the evening. Contact Maurice if you are interested.
News. Views and Reports of past events
New Members: We are delighted to welcome Axel Anderson,Celia Ashbolt, Marilyn Charlton, Anne Walker and Gabrielle Gabaniy who joined the club recently and wish them a long and happy period of rambling with us.
Membership Renewals: Existing members please remember to renew your membership by sending a cheque for £5 payable to "St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers Club" to Gillian McLauchlan. Please do it today. If you have not done so by 31 December your membership will be cancelled and
you will not receive future programmes.
Publicise the club: It is vitally important that we keep the club publicity prominently displayed on as many church notice boards as possible. As soon as we have decided who the second membership secretary is to be for this year we will be asking all members to put up the new poster on their parish notice boards. Please make sure you get one and arrange with your parish priest for it to be put up or just replace any that are up already.
75th Anniversary Celebrations: The year of celebrations for our 75th anniversary was well recorded in Bill O'Neill's speech at the dinner following the AGM and in some further reports below. On the day of the AGM we had the crowning celebration of our 75th year. We are truly blest to have Fr Peter Newby as our inspiring President at this time. Not only did he provide exemplary leadership during our holiday in Assisi and Pallazzola but he also suggested and arranged the celebratory dinner following the AGM. We were doubly blest to have Bishop James O'Brien with us that day. His words at the celebratory Mass inspired us all and it was a real privilege to have him with us at the celebratory meal which followed the Mass.
Fr Peter also arranged a beautiful Papal Blessing on the occasion of the 75th Anniversary. A Photocopy of it is enclosed with this programme. If you would like a colour copy on glossy photographic paper please send me 1.50 (or stamps to roughly that value) and I will send you one.
2005 Annual General Meeting: Draft minutes of the AGM are enclosed with this programme together with the club accounts for 2004-05 which were approved at the meeting. The minutes record that we said a sad farewell to four committee members - Bill O'Neill who had been secretary for three years, Tony Norton who had been Ramble List Compiler for two years, Hania Poniatowska who had served two years on the committee, arranging several social events during her time,and Witold Sokolowski who also served two years on the committee. Our thanks to all of them for their hard work on the
committee. With some trepidation I have taken over the post of secretary and will do my best to step into Bill O'Neill's shoes. I am delighted to extend a hearty welcome to my fellow new committee members Maurice Hickman, Francis O'Sullivan and Paul and Antoinette Connolly. We all look forward to taking the club forward into the final quarter of its first century. But remember the club does not belong to the committee, it belongs to the members so do please come forward with your suggestions, be prepared to lead rambles and by this time next year be prepared to provide a new committee to carry on the good work of the last 75 years.
EASTER IN LLANGOLLEN WITH THE St FRANCIS RAMBLERS
Many thanks to Mary Maxwell for the following account of what seems to have been a wonderful break at Easter 2005:
A small but select group spent a few days rambling in Llangollen over the Easter holidays. Apart from one spectacularly bad day when it rained hard and incessantly all day, the weather was not too bad and we were even able to shed various layers on Easter Monday.
The countryside in this area is lovely. First of all, Llangollen is a very pretty town built along the banks of the river Dee. There are some pretty streets and buildings and we found a very good hostelry thanks to the efforts of our noble leader, Maurice, who has a nose for these places. It was the 14th
century Corn Mill now turned into a pub and restaurant. It stands close to the river and the dining room has charming views across both banks.
One day we rambled to Trevor and covered part of Offa's Dyke. We crossed the splendid aqueduct and scrambled along some fairly steep paths, (indeed these were a feature of this trip!) which gave us wonderful views of the Vale of Llangollen and we saw beautiful rockfaces which the guide ook describes as one of the finest carboniferous limestone escarpments in Britain. We finished with a very arduous climb up to the remaining ruins of Castell Dinas Bran, believed to be built about 1260 on the summit of an isolated steep hill overlooking Llangollen on the site of an Iron Age fort. The climb was well worth it for the spectacular 360 degree panoramic views of the Pennines, Berwyn Mountains and Shropshire. And that was just Day One!
Another very nice walk took us along the canal to the ruins of Valle Crucis, a 12th century Cistercian Abbey, painted by Turner and then on to the horsheshoe Falls. Lunch that day was memorable for being partaken in a former 15th century Drovers Inn which had a mounting block outside. After lunch we had an incredibly steep climb up the mountains and then along the crest to the top. It was eerie but beautiful because of the stillness and solitude, just a few sheep to be seen grazing in the meadows down below and the odd little farmhouse nestling in the valleys.
Our final trip was the one where the weather let us down but fortunately most of it was spent in various forms of transport. We took a bus to Bala. Quite providentially we happened to see a Catholic Church opposite and were in time for Mass. A notice outside proclaimed it to be the first church in the world dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. The few parishoners at Mass greeted us very warmly and shook our hands as we left. After lunch, we took a charming little steam train, with an engine like a toy one, along the length of Lake Bala, a very beautiful lake set in very pretty scenery. Despite the aches and pains caused by all the climbing, we had a lovely break and really enjoyed seeing another part of this beautiful Island.
In the Lake District With Peter Culba - 8th - 16th July 2005
Thanks to Maureen Furlong and Maureen Cahalane for the following account and pictures respectively:
This trip, organised by Peter and based at Lakeside House, Keswick, close to Lake Derwentwater, was superb.
After a hearty breakfast we set out each morning to enjoy the delights of the Cumbrian mountains, the lakes and the waterfalls. Having explored the locality of Derwentwater, we were able to venture further afield, the bus station being only a short distance from the house.
One day we took a ride to Buttermere - a scenic drive through the Whinlatter Pass via the village of Lorton, passing Crummock Water. We rambled around the lake, stopping at the Fish Inn for refreshment before taking the bus over the Honister Pass back to Keswick to Lakeside House and the substantial home-cooked three course meal which awaited us there. It would take up too much space here to describe every day's activities in detail - suffice to say that all our days were filled with delight We walked, we rode, crossed the becks on stepping stones, took launch rides on Derwentwater, clambered over rocks, climbed a little, including Barrow (1,494 feet) to admire the awe inspiring views and descended into picturesque hamlets. Here I must mention Watendlath where we were served generous portions of home baked ginger bread in a fifth generation tea shop. This we consumed in a beautiful outdoor setting - quite unforgettable!
Our sight seeing included visits to "Wordsworth House", William's childhood home at Cockermouth, and his later home, "Dove Cottage" at Grasmere where he lived with his sister Dorothy. Beatrix Potter's home "Hill Top" at Sawney near Windermere where many of her writings were inspired, The Threlkeld Quarry, the Cumberland pencil works and museum, the "Theatre By The Lake" ( Derwentwater) to see "Gaslight" and the catholic church in Keswick dedicated to "Our Lady of the Lakes and St Charles".
Our last evening was spent in the comfortable lounge at Lakeside House enjoying a little social gathering with coffee and wine. It was a truly memorable club holiday, enhanced by Peter's familiarity with Lakeside House, his knowledge of the Cumbrian area, negotiating the cheapest fares and coping so ably with the disappointment of having to delay the starting date which should have been 7th July - the day of the London bombings. Although it was not advertised as a te: anniversary celebration, it could well be counted as one, particularly as our leader's year of birth coincides with the foundation year of the St Francis Ramblers Club!
To Peter: congratulations and much gratitude for all you did, not least for re-establishing the club's links with Lakeside House where, thanks to the friendly staff, we were so well catered for and invited to come again. This wonderful club event will no doubt be remembered by those who took part for a long time to come.
Maureen Furlong
75th Anniversary Celebration at Hawkestone Hall 19 - 22 August 2005
Thanks to Maureen Furlong again for this account of the Hawkestone Hall weekend organised and directed by Anne Dunne.
We arrived at Shrewsbury station early on the Friday evening to find a mini bus waiting for us. A pleasant drive through the Shropshire countryside brought us to our destination - Hawkestone Hall where we were warmly welcomed and shown to our rooms - singles for everyone. At 6 30 pm we assembled in the cheerful dining hall for supper, after which we were free to explore the magnificent house and extensive gardens.
We awoke on Saturday morning to warm sunshine and blue skies - perfect for the "outdoors". Anne led a beautiful scenic ramble, starting from the house and passing through Weston, Lee Brockhurst and Stanton. The lunch stop was at "The Stanton Pub" which we had to ourselves.
Meanwhile, those for whom the nine miles might have been too long were happy to enjoy the house and gardens, stroll into the village of Weston and relax at will.
Hawkstone Hall, being a Redemptorist house, has a lovely large chapel and resident priests so we were able to celebrate the Sunday liturgy on site together with the local community, one of our members (from Scotland) being privileged to take part in proclaiming the Word.
In addition to the chapel, there is on the first floor of the house, an aesthetically designed prayer room where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved - a perfect haven of peace and tranquillity. There one can take respite from our busy world to spend time with the Lord in prayer and meditation.
On Sunday afternoon we were conveyed by mini bus to Hodnett Hall Gardens - subject of many BBC radio and TV programmes. The weather was superb and we spent a delightful afternoon among acres of brilliantly coloured flowers, forest trees, sweeping lawns, ornamental pools providing a natural habitat for wild flowers and other wild life. Refreshments were available in the picturesque tea rooms, and in the Kitchen gardens plants and shrubs were on sale. Some of our members took this opportunity to make purchases for their own gardens, thus securing a long lasting souvenir of this memorable occasion. At an appointed time we again boarded the mini bus and arrived back at Hawkestone in time for Supper.
Later in the evening we gathered in one of the fine reception rooms for a "Poetry and Wine" session which was very entertaining and made a fitting end to a splendid day. Monday morning came all too soon but, as we were not leaving until the afternoon, there was time to explore Hawkestone Park and the Follies before lunch.
About 2 30 pm the mini bus arrived and, having expressed our appreciation and gratitude to the wonderful community at Hawkestone we were soon on our way back to Shrewsbury station renewed in mind, body and spirit.
It was a great weekend and the success of it was due in no small measure to Anne's discovering Hawkestone Hall with its many amenities - an ideal place for the group, to her careful planning and preparation which necessitated two previous visits, the negotiations with Mike Sergeant's reliable mini bus service, and the general organisation before and during our stay.
Many many thanks Anne for this contribution to the club's 75th anniversary celebrations and for all you did to make it so worthwhile.
Maureen Furlong
Club Committee 2005-06
(Please note: Addresses and telephone numbers are not included in this internet version of the programme)
President: Fr Peter Newby, Parish Priest, St Vice President: Helen Hunt,
Mary Moorfields, 4-5 Eldon Street, London EC2M 7LS.
Secretary: Tony Finnegan, Treasurer:
Ramble List Compiler: Maurice Hickman Membership Secretaries:
Alison Clarke,
Paul Connolly,
Social Secretary: Committee Members
Anne Dunne, Antoinette Connolly, and
Francis O'Sullivan,
God bless and Happy Rambling
Draft Minutes of the 75th Annual General Meeting of the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers Club
Held in St Mary Moorfields Church Hall, 4-5 Eldon Street, London, EC2 On Saturday, 8th October 2005 At 4.30 pm.
Refreshments were provided by Helen Hunt and Peter Lobo from 4p.m. onwards.
1. The meeting opened at 4.35 pm with the St Francis prayer. Helen Hunt chaired the meeting.
2. Apologies for absence: Maureen Cahalane, Catherine Martin, Tony Norton, Mary McQuaid, Frank Bigg and Monique Loy had all submitted their apologies.
3. Officers's Reports: Helen, read out the minutes of the 74th AGM and they were accepted as read.
Bill O'Neill, as Club Secretary, then read out his report. He emphasised the significance of the 75 years since the Club's foundation, and announced the Mass to be celebrated by Bishop James O'Brien (in the unavoidable
absence of Bishop Longley) in the Church afterwards followed by a celebration meal.
Bill urged members to continue promoting the Club to their families and friends. New methods of recruiting had been tried out and the level of response had been promising, resulting in an increase in membership.
Bill named those who had formed the Committee over the past year and their functions.
Bill was happy to report that the two Commemorative holidays/breaks to AssisilPalazzola and Hawkstone Hall in Shropshire had gone off successfully and that a number of other breaks to Llangollen, the Lake District and the Midlands had been well supported and much appreciated by those participating. Members had also been generous in contributing to a social event organized by Hania Poniatowska in aid of CAFOD in February
Bill also acknowledged member's continued enthusiasm for the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton's ecumenical Walking Pilgrimage. This year the route had been between Winchester and Canterbury and a number of members had participated.
Bill affirmed the efforts of members in organising the Christmas functions at suitable and attractive venues.
Regarding the spiritual activities of the Club, notably the customary Lenten Day of Recollection, Bill noted the support and leadership on the Day by the Club's President, Fr Peter Newby, and that a reasonable number of
members were in attendance.
Additionally, the Good Friday Walk to Aylesford Priory had attracted a very high turnout.
Finally, Bill extended his thanks to the Committee for their hard work and for supporting him in his role as Secretary.
Alison Clarke and Tony Finnegan gave Joint Membership Secretaries' reports. All the Parishes in the Archdioceses of Westminster and Southwark had received Club publicity by email and this increased the number of enquiries. 125 enquiries had been received. Tony reported that he was aware of 21 new people who had come out on walks and that out of this number, 7 are now members. Tony felt that information which had appeared in Parish newsletters was an effective way of promoting the Club as people felt that inclusion in the parish newsletter meant that the club had the approval and endorsement of the Parish Priest.
Gillian McLauchlan, then delivered the Treasurer's Report and was pleased to report that subscriptions had risen due to an increase in membership.
Gillian had identified the Christmas Party as an event, which if attendance were to improve, could generate more funds for the dub.
She would also like to see more members paying by Standing Order. However, regardless of the method of payment, Gillian wishes to have subscriptions between 1sI October and 31 December each year for those paying annually and for those becoming eligible for Life membership, the same deadline applies.
Auditor's Report:.
John Burbage, as Club Auditor, said that there had been a slight drop in Club Finances and he felt that the Life Membership arrangements were contributing to a loss in the Club's finances as the current level of Life
Membership subscription was not keeping up with inflation and therefore he invited the membership to give consideration to increasing the subscription for life membership. John explained that whilst expenditure was running at a similar rate to 2003-2004, the Club's funds had diminished slightly.
The club accounts were accepted by the meeting.
In Tony Norton's absence, Helen read out the Ramble List Compiler's report.
4. Election of the New Committee. The new committee was elected as follows:
Secretary: Tony Finnegan, proposed and seconded from the floor and elected on a show of hands.
Treasurer: Gillian McLauchlan elected unanimously.
Ramble List Compiler: Maurice Hickman elected by secret ballot (26 votes against 22 for Paul Connolly).
Committee Members:
Anne Dunne: Proposed by Tony Norton, Seconded by Tony Finnegan and elected unanimously.
Alison Clarke: Proposed by Tony Finnegan, Seconded by Gavin Fowells and elected unanimously.
Francis O'Sulivan: Proposed by Helen Hunt, Seconded by Tony Finnegan and elected unanimously.
Antoinette Connolly: Proposed by Terry Dobson, Seconded by? and elected unanimously.
Paul Connolly: Proposed as Ramble List Compiler and accepted nomination as committee member at the meeting and elected.
5. Election of Auditors
John Burbage was re-elected to continue for a further term as a Club Auditor. Mike Hoffman was proposed and seconded from the floor and unanimously elected as the second auditor.
6. Amendment to Club Constitution
The Committee had proposed an amendment to the Club Constitution (introduced to enable the Club's Constitution to accord with obligatory Insurance regulations) to the effect that if the Club had to cease operation
due to lack of membership, then any remaining funds would have to be donated to an organisation with similar aims and objectives. The Ramblers Association had been identified as a suitable organisation to aHodte funds to, should the above circumstances prevail.
Barbara Bridle and Peter Lobo suggested the Catholic Fellowship House as an alternative recipient of any outstanding Club funds resulting from closure of the Club. It had similar aims and objectives to St Francis' Club and they requested that consideration be given to this organisation and not just the Ramblers Association.
In the context of discussion on Insurance Regulations, Peter McDonald mentioned that he had been notified that .Windsor Great Park would not take any responsibility for members who got injured in the Park during the course of a ramble. He therefore asked the Committee if the Club was covered by Insurance in the event of any such accidents. Helen said that the query would be addressed in the next newsletter.
7. Any Other Business
There being no other business, Helen declared the meeting closed at about 5.40p.m. and thanked eyerybody for attending.
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