St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers Club
Associated With HF Holidays
The club is Approved by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster; Affiliated to the Ramblers Association
Programme of Events June - August 2009
Greetings Ramblers,
NB Items for the next programme must reach the Secretary or Ramble List Compiler by 28th August.
NNB Allow extra time to queue for tickets in summer time, especially at Waterloo and Victoria where many seaside train journeys begin.
Sunday 7th June 2009 (Landranger Map 153) Leader: Robert Slater
MEET: Kings Cross main line station 1100 for 1122 train to Biggleswade (arr 1201)
LUNCH: The New Inn, Biggleswade town centre. Meals very reasonably priced.
TEA: Biggleswade. The Crown Inn or open air café, depending on time back and weather.
DISTANCE: 7 miles, returning from Biggleswade. Walk begins after lunch to visit RSPB headquarters and Nature Reserve (Sandy) comprising woodland, heathland, gardens and shop (coffee / tea from machine). Hoping for trauma-free day after last year’s unexpected power failure on railway.
FARE: £10.90 cdr Biggleswade from Kings Cross, £6.60 from Zone 6 boundary, both with Network card
Robert will meet the ramblers at Biggleswade.
Sunday 14th June 2009 (Landranger Map 166) Leader: Martin Harrison
MEET: Liverpool Street 1000 for 1022 train to Turkey Street (arr 1045)
LUNCH: Bring a packed lunch, or eat at a garden centre. Drinks at the Fallow Buck Public House, Enfield.
TEA: Trent Country Park, Cockfosters.
DISTANCE: 10 miles, returning from Cockfosters Underground Station (Piccadilly Line, Zone 5)
FARE: £7.20 all zone Travelcard, or Freedom Pass.
Martin will meet the ramblers at Turkey Street.
Sunday 21st June 2009 (Explorer Map 174*) Leaders: Virginia and Roger Yelland
MEET: Loughton Station at 1000. Loughton is in Zone 6, on the Underground Central Line, about 45 minutes from Oxford Circus.
LUNCH: The Owl, Lippitt’s Hill, with fine view, bar food and McMullens ales.
TEA: The Robin Hood Tea Hut, for an excellent bacon roll and / or a variety of cakes.
DISTANCE: 11 miles through Epping Forest, returning from Loughton.
FARE: Travelcard to include Zone 6, or Freedom Pass.
* Better is the dedicated map of Epping Forest, produced by the Ordnance Survey for the Corporation of London.
We received some photographs taken on the day and you can see them by clicking HERE
Saturday 27th June 2009 (Landranger Map 179) Leader: Chris McNicholas
MEET: Victoria 0910 for 0936 train to Dover Priory (arr 1150 – bus service from Shepherd’s Well)
LUNCH: The Coastguard, St Margarets-at-Cliffe Village
TEA: The Zetland Arms, Kingsdown (the pub is on the beach)
DISTANCE: 14 miles, returning from Deal (undulating, scenic coast path)
FARE: £16.85 cdr Deal from Victoria, £13.75 from Zone 6 boundary, both with Network Card. If you are also doing the walk on 28th June, you will need an off-peak return to Deal, £19.55 from Victoria, £18.90 from Zone 6 boundary (with Network Card)..
If you are staying over, you will need to book B&B. Contact Chris on 07717 220163 or the Deal Visitor Centre on 01304 369576.
At St Margarets you can visit botanical gardens, the village, the beach, and there may be an opportunity for a swim, so bring a towel and costume.
Sunday 28th June 2009 (Landranger Map 179) Leader: as for 27th June
MEET: Victoria 0740 for 0803 train to Deal (arr 1030 – change trains at Ramsgate). Chris will meet ramblers at Deal. There is an 1100 Mass at Deal.
LUNCH: The Port Arms, Deal (sea front)
TEA: The Chequers Restaurant and Bar (arriving there before 4 pm)
DISTANCE: 13 miles, returning from Deal (flat, open coastal route).
FARE: £16.85 cdr Deal from Victoria, £13.75 from Zone 6 boundary, both with Network Card.
Visits include Sholden Village, Mary Bax’s Stone, Sandwich Bay and beach – opportunity for a swim, so bring towel and costume.
Sunday 5th July 2009 (Landranger Map 199) Leader: Maurice Hickman
MEET: Victoria 0920 for 0947 train to Eastbourne (arr 1108)
LUNCH: Tiger Inn, East Dean
TEA: Birling Gap. Possibility of a swim – bring towel and costume.
DISTANCE: 12 miles, returning from Eastbourne.
FARE: £13.85 cdr Eastbourne from Victoria, £12.60 from Zone 6 boundary, both with Network Card
Sunday 12th July 2009 (Landranger Maps 165, 166) Leader: Tony Finnegan
MEET: Euston Main Line Station at 0905 for 0923 train to Berkhamsted (arr 0958)
LUNCH: Martin’s Pond, Potten End (GR 018 089). Pub does food and overlooks the Village Green, where there is a pond and seats for those with their own food.
TEA: The Boat, Berkhamsted or Harvester, Hemel Hempstead
DISTANCE: 13 miles, returning from Berkhamsted or 9 miles, returning from Hemel Hempstead. Some hills, but the entire walk is in Hertfordshire, so no very severe hills.
FARE: £7.55 cdr Berkhamsted from Euston, £4.70 from Zone 6 boundary, both with Network Card.
Sunday 19th July 2009 (Landranger Map 165) Leader: Paul Connolly
MEET: Marylebone 0910 for 0933 train to Princes Risborough (arr 1018)
LUNCH: Thame. Good choice of pubs, cafes and shops in the town centre.
TEA: Maybe at Haddenham.
DISTANCE: 12 mostly level miles, returning from Haddenham and Thame Parkway (2 trains an hour back to London).
FARE: £10.55 cdr Haddenham and Thame Parkway from Marylebone, £9.00 from Zone 6 boundary, both with Network Card.
Sunday 26th July 2009 (Landranger Map 187) Leader: Witold Sokolowski
St Anne’s and St Joachim’s Picnic Walk
MEET: Victoria 1010 for 1032 train to Coulsdon South (arr 1057)
LUNCH: Picnic at Happy Valley – bring food to share. The Fox pub is nearby.
TEA: Golf Club near Caterham.
DISTANCE: 3+3+3 miles, returning from Caterham.
FARE: Travelcard to include Zone 6, or Freedom Pass.
Note: Hania will meet those who wish to join at lunchtime at 1200 at West Croydon Bus Station – there are frequent buses from there to the lunch area.
Sunday 2nd August (Landranger Map 179) Leader: Paul Brunning
MEET: Charing Cross 0910 for 0930 train to Chilham (arr 1106)
LUNCH: The White Horse, Chilham. Good food, but a bit pricey.
TEA: ?
DISTANCE: 13 miles, returning from Canterbury. Drop off points are available at Chilham 5 miles and Chartham 8 miles.
FARE: £14.45 cdr Canterbury from Charing Cross, £11.95 from Zone 6 boundary, both with Network Card.
Sunday 9th August 2009 (Landranger Map 188) Leaders: Marta and John Haworth
MEET: Charing Cross 0850 for 0914 train to Wadhurst (arr 1017)
LUNCH: Carpenters Arms, Mayfield
TEA: Maybe at Wadhurst
DISTANCE: 14 miles, returning from Wadhurst
FARE: £10.25 cdr Wadhurst from Charing Cross, £6.15 from Zone 6 boundary, both with Network Card
Sunday 16th August 2009 (Explorer Map 147) Leader: Paul Brunning
MEET: Charing Cross 0935 for 1000 train to Sevenoaks (arr 1034)
LUNCH: The White Rock Inn, Underriver
TEA: ?
DISTANCE: 11 miles, returning from Sevenoaks
FARE: £5.80 cdr Sevenoaks from Charing Cross, £2.20 from Zone 6 boundary, both with Network Card
Sunday 23rd August 2009 (Landranger Map 167) Leader: Paul Connolly
MEET: Liverpool Street 0935 for 1002 train to Ingatestone (arr 1035)
LUNCH: Cuckoo, Radley Green – good value grub
TEA: Chelmsford
DISTANCE: 12 level miles returning from Chelmsford (2 trains an hour back to London)
FARE: £8.10 cdr Chelmsford from Liverpool Street, £4.80 from Zone 6 boundary, both with Network Card.
Monday 31st August 2009 (Landranger Map 165) Leader: Tony Norton
MEET: Marylebone 0900 for 0927 train to Great Missenden (arr 1008)
LUNCH: Red Lion, Wendover
TEA: who knows?
DISTANCE: 16 miles, returning from Great Missenden
FARE: £6.55 cdr Great Missenden from Marylebone, £5.55 from Zone 6 boundary, both with Network Card. Freedom Pass holders need only a cdr from Amersham, £3.10 with Network Card or Senior Railcard.
*************************************************************
For rambles along the south coast or in the South Downs area "downlander" tickets, for return journey by train and bus travel throughout the South Downs area, can be purchased online two days before travel for just £10. Visit www.southernrailway.com/downlander.
When joining us on a walk 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 £1.20 off all zone travel cards even if purchased at underground stations. Senior Railcard holders can also get the reduction on train fares but only for themselves.
D on't forget Sunday train services can be affected by engineering works eg trains from Charing Cross are sometimes diverted to begin from Cannon Street or Victoria. Information on these can be obtained by calling 08457 484950 or see National Rail Website at www.nationalrail.com
C hildren and vulnerable adults must be accompanied by a responsible adult. It is the policy of St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers Club to endeavour to ensure that no child or vulnerable adult is left in the company of a lone adult on a ramble or at a club event.
*************************************************************
News, Views and items of interest
Membership contributions: For those joining the club for the first time after 31st July this year membership subscriptions will be £7 but their first year’s membership will take them up to October 2010 or Life Membership is available for £140. Existing members who are renewing their membership for 2009-2010 please remember that the subscription goes up to £7 next year (£9 for those living outside the UK). Existing members can still take out Life Membership for £100 up to 30th September. From 1 October Life Membership for existing members will be £140 (£180 for those living outside the UK postal area).
Welcome to New members: A hearty welcome to the following who have become fully paid up members since the last programme: David Crundell of Wimbledon, London SW19, Helen Evans of Cambridge, Beatrice Manscour of London E14, Sister Carol Pacini of Tooting Bec, London SW17 and Virginia Yelland of London E3. We wish them many years happy rambling with the club.
Publicising the Club: Many thanks to those who have put up our notices on parish notice boards. This is our main form of publicity for the club and essential to attracting new members. Of course personal recommendation is also a good way of attracting new members so don’t forget to tell your family and friends what a treat lies in store for them if they join our Sunday rambles.
Obituaries: We were sorry to hear of the death of the following: Peter Taylor who died last year. Peter joined the club in 1971-72 and he and his wife Jean became life members in 1981. We offer or sincere sympathies to Jean on her sad loss.
Holiday Fellowship holidays: We are pleased that the club is now a group member of HF Holidays. This brings numerous benefits in terms of shared publicity arrangements, discounts on group bookings on HF Holidays. A selection of holidays currently available are on the back page of this newsletter.
YHA revival: From the magazine of the Ramblers Association to which we are affiliated we have gleaned some good news about the Youth Hostel Association.
Those of us who have used YHA hostels in the past were saddened by the number of closures due the financial problems in the early years of this decade. However we are now glad to have news of NEW HOSTELS opening up this year. A new 30-bed self-catering hostel opened on 1 May at the eastern end of the South downs Way, about a mile and a half from the centre of Eastbourne. The new building, constructed of locally-sourced building materials and with a living sedum roof, is all on one level and all bedrooms are en suite. It replaces the former hostel which was sadly destroyed in an arson attack in 2004.
Towards the end of the summer another new YHA hostel is expected to open at Southease, near Lewes, and also on the South Downs Way.
These new hostels will bring the number in the South East to nearly 20. Full details on the YHA website www.yha.org.uk.
P lease pray for our members who are not well enough to walk. Frances Dean, John Lawrence and Frances Tolhurst have all been ill since the last programme.
Future Dates for Your Diary
Tuesday 1st to Friday 11th September 2009: Holiday in West Wales
Staying four nights at Aberystwyth University (to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of the Tapers) and six nights at Bangor University (mainly visiting Anglesey). If you are interested in the holiday ring Dorothy Hickman for details as soon as possible on 01737 765 231.
Saturday 26th September: the reunion for past and present members this year will be on Saturday 26th September from 12.30 at St Mary Moorfields, Eldon Street. No need to book for this but please bring a plate of food to share. This event has also proved a good occasion to share photographic memories of past club events.
Saturday 10th October 2009: Annual General Meeting and Mass for Members’ Intentions
Please reserve the date in your diary now and be prepared to take your full part in decisions concerning the running of the club. We will eagerly welcome nomination for membership of the committee so now is the time to start thinking of who you might nominate, or even think of accepting nomination yourself.
Remember no club can run itself without the active participation of its members so it’s up to you the members to continue the good work of those who have kept it going for nearly 80 years now.
The AGM will be in St Mary Moorfields Church Hall, 4-5 Eldon Street, London EC2 . Refreshments from 3 30 pm and the meeting will begin at 4 pm.
With thanks to our president Fr Peter the AGM will be followed by the annual Mass for members’ intentions.
October 2009 - veneration of the relic of St Therese of Lisieux. The relic of St Therese of Lisieux The Little Flower will be taken around England and Wales this year and it would be nice if the club could play some part in the celebration. The relic will be in the South East from Wednesday October 7th to Thursday October 15th and we hope to organise visits to one or more of the following:
Wednesday 7th October - Oxford Oratory; There will be a solemn procession for the entry of the relic followed by Vespers of St Therese and later there will be an all night vigil. We hope to have a walk finishing in time for the entry procession and those who are really keen can remain for the all night vigil.
Thursday 8th October - St Joseph’s Carmelite Priory, Gerrards Cross
Friday 9th October - Sunday 11th October Aylesford Priory will be holding a triduum of prayer, reflection, celebration and gentleness and we hope to have a short walk each day as follows:
Friday 9 October
2.30pm Service of Welcome and Joy and Blessing of Roses
5-9pm Guided prayer, quiet and veneration
Saturday 10 October
11.30am Mass and Blessing of Roses, Archbishop Kevin McDonald. We will have a walk and late lunch afterwards but those who wish will be able to attend 4.30pm Prayer for Healing and Reconciliation. There will be an all night vigil from 10pm-5am.
Sunday 11 October
We hope to have a walk arriving in time for the Farewell Service at 3 PM followed by a late lunch or tea.
Monday 12th October: Monday morning departure ceremony from Carmelite Church in Church Street, Kensington followed by a city walk and lunch.
12th October to Thursday 15th October - Westminster Cathedral with another City walk and lunch on at least one of these days.
The website mentioned in the last newsletter no longer exists but details of the relic’s itinerary can be seen at: http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/ccb/catholic_church/relics_of_st_therese_of_lisieux/locations_and_dates.
The secretary and/or ramble list compiler will welcome any ideas or volunteers to lead any of those events.
Saturday 14th November 2009: Mass for deceased members: This is another important annual event so please make a note of the date now. Mass will be at 6 PM at St Mary Moorfields Church, 4-5 Eldon Street, London EC2.
8th to 15th May 2010: If you are going on the holiday in the Lake District next year please note that Cheques payable to Marie Tisi (£35.00 per person) will be required by end of July 2009 together with the form which you will have received from Marie on which you need to give your preference of which walks to do. Already over 30 of those who have enjoyed Marie’s breaks in the past and a few who haven’t have signed up for this one. That splendid initial response has qualified us for a 7½ per cent discount and the cost will be £572.58. But if a few more were to join we might be able to have the whole venue to ourselves. A significant selling point this time is that those who feel they cannot ramble any more can still come and do the "Rover" (motorised day trips) but still have time to spend with their friends in the evenings.
If you’d like to join the holiday contact Marie by e mail only at marietisi@yahoo.co.uk as soon as possible. If you do not have e mail you can ring me (Tony Finnegan) on 020 8767 5293 and I will be pleased to pass your details to Marie.
God bless and happy rambling.
and
Secretary
The Club is now a group member (number LB429) of HF Holidays and has group access to the benefits of membership. Below are details of three venues where HF Holidays provide holidays. There are 15 other venues in England and Wales including in Exmoor, Yorkshire, the Cotswolds and the Lake District. Full board costs for groups above a certain number range from £53 to £81 per person per night depending on the time and venue chosen. NB Some venues are quite heavily booked for 2009 now and already taking bookings for 2010.
HF Holidays send one notification per year of upcoming events to each member of affiliated groups like ours and have asked for our address list for the purpose. Since we are very protective of our members’ details you can opt out of this if you wish by either e mailing Tony at secretary@stfrancisramblers.org.uk or leave a message on 020 8767 5293
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
<> <>
<> Club Committee 2008-09 <>
<> <>
<>(Please note: Addresses and telephone numbers are not included in this <>
<> internet version of the programme) <>
<> . <>
<>President: Fr Peter Newby, Parish Priest, St Mary Moorfields, 4-5 Eldon Street, <> <>London EC2M 7LS. <> <> . <>
<>Vice President: Helen Hunt, <> <>Secretary: Tony Finnegan, <>
<>Treasurer: Gillian McLauchlan, <> <>Ramble List Compiler: John Haworth <> <>Publicity Co-ordinator: Robert Slater, <>
<>Membership Secretaries: <>
<>Elizabeth Furlong and, <>
<>Francis O’Sullivan, <>
<>Committee Members <>
<>Carol Anley, <><>Marta Haworth, <>
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><<<><><<><<>
| Visitor Counter: | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | ||