St Francis of Assisi Catholic Rambler's Club
(Website: www.stfrancisramblers.ukwalkers.com)
The Club is approved by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster
Affiliated to the Ramblers Association and HF Holidays
Programme of Rambles / Events for Spring 2016
(Items for the next programme by mid May please
Ramble programme 28th February to May 2016
Thanks once again to the few who have helped to make this programme complete and especially to John Sealy for leading his first ramble on Easter Monday.
Now, where are the other new leaders?
Due to the major works out of Liverpool Street to Shenfield that are taking place over many weekends please see below the revised details for the ramble on 28th February.
Sunday 28th February Leader: Paul Connolly OS Explorer map 173 plus a hint of 174.
Meet :Highgate - Northern line 10.15 for a 10.30 start
Lunch :Jolly Butchers - Stoke Newington High Street
Tea :Hmmm
Distance :9 miles returning from Mile End - Central line
Fare :Oyster/Freedom pass/Travelcard options.
Click HERE to view photographs taken on this walk on Sunday 28 February 2016
Sunday 6th March Leader: Paul Brunning OS map 188
Meet : Victoria 09.45 for 10.12 train to Sevenoaks (arr 10.46)
NB: Two trains are scheduled to leave Victoria for Sevenoaks at 10 12 one of which calls at more stations and arrives 30 minutes later than the one shown on the programme. At the time of writing the faster train is scheduled to leave from Platform 1 but to make sure you are on the correct train it would be wise to check that it stops ONLY at Bromley South and Orpington before Sevenoaks.
Lunch : NB The Sennockian (Wetherspoons), Sevenoaks and not Bricklayers Arms - Chipstead as originally planned
Tea :??
Distance :9.5 miles returning from Sevenoaks
Fare :£9.40 CDR Sevenoaks with NSE discount
Paul will meet the ramblers at Sevenoaks
Click HERE to view photographs taken on this walk on Sunday 6 March 2016
Sunday 13th March OS map 146 Leader: Maurice Hickman
Meet:Victoria at 11.00 for 1127 train to Redhill (arr. 1157)
Lunch: Feathers, Merstham
Tea: Kiosk at Reigate Hill Car Park
Distance: 8 miles, returning from Redhill
Fare: £7.45 with Network Card
There is a 10.30 folk Mass at Redhill for anyone who wants it. This finishes at 1145 so you should still be in time for the walk.
Sunday 20th March (Landranger Map187) Leader: John Burbage
Meet:London Bridge 09.00 for the 09.24 train to Tadworth (arr10.23)
Lunch:The Well House Inn. Remote, atmospheric, old inn with large
garden. Range of food snacks & children’s menu at medium prices.
Tea: Possibly
Distance: 10 miles. Fairly level in the morning but hilly in the
afternoon. Returning from Woodmansterne.
Fare Guide:Oyster Card Zone 6. Off peak Travel Card £8.00.
Please Note: Leader will join group en route.
Click HERE to view photographs taken on this walk on Sunday 20 March 2016
Good Friday 25th March
Leader: Maurice Hickman (Explorer maps 134 & 135)
Meet : Blackfriars at 0940 for 1008 train to Three Bridges (arr. 1107). The train begins from Bedford at 8 54 and calls at 17 stations before Three Bridges, including Harpenden (9.26), St Albans City (9.32), St Pancras (9.51), East Croydon (10.33), Merstham (10.50) and Redhill (10.54).
Lunch :Rowfant House, Rowfant (Good beer and food)
Tea :No T today
Distance :9 miles Returning from Three Bridges.
The key aspect of this walk is attending the Good Friday service at Worth Abbey.
Fare:£5.60 Super Off Peak Three Bridges with Network Card.
Maurice will meet the walkers on the train at Redhill.
Please bring a change of shoes or overshoes for use in the Abbey.
Click HERE to view photographs taken on this walk on the Good Friday walk on 25 March 2016
Easter Monday 28th March Leader:John Sealy.(Explorer map 161)
Meet Clapham Junction 09.40 for 10.00 (Platform 17) train to Waddon (Arr 10.32) Also calls Balham 10.06 - mainline station is just over from the Northern line one.
Lunch : William Morris, Abbey Mills.
5 minutes walk from South Wimbledon (Northern line)
Tea : Let's see
Distance : 12 level miles following the Wandle Trail
Fare : Oyster/Travelcard/Freedom pass options
Click HERE to view photographs taken on this walk on Easter Monday 28 March 2016
Sunday 3rd April Leader: Paul Connolly OS map 177
Meet :Liverpool Street 09.20 for 09.44 train to Brentwood (arr 10.19). Train also calls Stratford 0951 - various Tube, Overground, DLR and other rail connections.
Lunch :Old Dog, Herongate Tye
Tea :Billericay
Distance : 11 fairly level miles returning from Billericay
Fare :£8.80 cdr Billericay with NSE discount
Paul will meet the ramblers at Brentwood
Click HERE to view photographs taken on this walk on Sunday 3 April 2016
Sunday 10th April Leader: John Burbage OS map 165
Phil Evans Memorial Walk
Meet:Marylebone Station 09.20 for the 09.43 train to Princes Risborough (arr. 10.25).
Lunch:The Pink and Lily, Parslows Hillock. This pub was used on
Phil’s 40th anniversary walk in 2010. Medium to high price but will be
subsidised by the kindness of Phil’s family in his honour. Full menu
available including roast lunches, baguettes etc. Please read the
important note below
Tea:Unlikely
Distance:9 - 10 ½ miles. 6 hilly miles in the morning with some difficult
conditions underfoot possible. Stunning views and pleasant spring
forest walking follows much of the route taken by Phil. The afternoon
is generally downhill with the option to increase the walk by 1½ miles
by taking the Chiltern Trail to the station.
Fare Guide:£13.45 day CDR Princes Risborough with NSE discount. (£9.50 from Zone 6).
To join later take the no. 300 bus from Princes Risborough at 28 minutes past the hour from the Wycombe Road stop (across the road from Poppy Road) to Loosely Row (The Whip Inn stop). The pub is a one mile walk along Pink Road beside the stop. Allow 15 minutes to walk from the station to bus stop, following Station Road to access Poppy Road on the right after the bend. The 13 past the hour departures from Marylebone should give you around 20 minutes to get from Princes Risborough Station to the bus stop.
Important Note: As the pub is likely to be very busy and we have been asked to provide numbers in advance together with an idea of your chosen main course, if you are intending to come, please e-mail or telephone the leader by the 4th of April. The pub menu is on the internet and Sundays include a selection of roasts (beef, pork, lamb and chicken). John’s contact details are on the back of the programme.
Click HERE to view photographs taken on this walk on Sunday 10 April 2016
Sunday 17th April Leader: Paul Brunning OS map 188
Meet :Blackfriars 0920 for 0942 train to Otford (arr 10.37)
Lunch :The Woodman, Otford
Tea : Aaah, now you mention it............
Distance :9 miles returning from Otford
Fare :£7.80 cdr Otford with NSE card
Click HERE to view photographs taken on this walk on Sunday 17 April 2016
Sunday 24th April Leader: Philip Groves OS map 198
Meet :London Victoria Station at 08.30 for 08.47 train to Lewes (arrives 10:06)
Lunch :The Plough and Harrow, Littlington - good home-cooked food and
real ales
Tea :Seaford
Distance :Around 18 hilly miles, returning from Seaford
Fare :£18 off peak CDR to Seaford with Network Card.
NB: The leader will meet the group at Lewes.
Sunday 1st May (Landranger Map 166) Leader: Robert Slater
Meet :King's Cross at 09.45 for 10.05 to Welwyn Garden City(arr.10.31)
Lunch :The Swan, Wheathampstead. Pleasantly surprised at price of
meals.
Tea :The Two Willows, Welwyn Garden City.
Distance :12 miles
Fare :£5.60 Welwyn Garden City return with Network Railcard.
Part of route, including Ayot St Lawrence, favoured by the late walks leader Phillip Evans. Robert will meet walkers at WGC.
Click HERE to view photographs taken on this walk on Sunday 1 May 2016
Sunday 8th May Leader: Angela Shardlow OS map 197
Meet :Victoria 0850 for 09.17 train to Chichester (arr 11.05)
Lunch :Spotted Cow, Hunston
Tea :Chichester
Distance :8 level miles returning from Chichester
Fare :£19.20 CDR Chichester with NSE discount
Angela will meet the ramblers at Chichester
Click HERE to view photographs taken on this walk on Sunday 8 May 2016
Sunday 15th May Leader Robert Slater (Landranger Map 165)
Meet :Euston at 09.00 for 09.24 to Bletchley(arr.1020)
Lunch :The Old Red Lion, Great Brickhill
Tea :The Globe Inn(by canal), Linslade.
Distance :14 miles returning from Leighton Buzzard
Fare :£10.55 return to Bletchley using Network Railcard.
Route includes lakes, heathland, woodland and Rushmere Country Park where there is a good viewing point for nesting Herons.
Robert will meet walkers at Bletchley. Mobile no.07780 599922
Click HERE to view photographs taken on this walk on Sunday 15 May 2016
Sunday 22nd May (Explorer Map 174: but better is the dedicated map of Epping Forest produced by OS for the Corporation of London). Leaders Virginia & Roger Yelland.
Meet : at 10am at Epping Station (Central Line: Zone 6: Epping is
approximately 55 minutes from Oxford Circus). BUT NB No Central
Line service between Marble Arch and Bethnal Green, so please change onto it at Mile
End or Stratford.
Lunch :The Travellers Friend, Epping Green.
Tea :Epping
Distance :13-14 miles through Epping Upland, parts of the northern
Forest, and the estates and farmland of the Forest Buffer
Lands.
Fare :Epping is in Zone 6 so there will be no charge for Freedom pass holders.
Click HERE to view photographs taken on this walk on Sunday 22 May 2016
Sunday 29th May Leader: Paul Connolly OS map 165
Meet :Marylebone 09.30 for 09.57 train to Great Missenden (arr 10.38)
Lunch :Wendover - plenty of options including a pub where you can eat
your own sandwiches.
Tea :An infusion of dried leaves and boiling water - but not on this
walk!!
Distance :12 miles returning from returning from Stoke Mandeville.
Gently uphill at the start becoming downhill and level with
wonderful views from Combe Hill before lunch.
Fare : £11.70 cdr Stoke Mandeville with NSE discount.
Click HERE to view photographs taken on this ramble on Sunday 29 May 2016
Club Committee 2015-2016
(Please note: Addresses and telephone numbers are not included in this internet version of the programme)
President: Fr Peter Newby, 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
Henrietta Van Zaelen,
Maria Vaz,
Subscriptions - Final Reminder
This is a final reminder that subscriptions are now overdue for the year 2015-2016. They can be renewed by sending a cheque for £7 (still only £7! ) to John Burbage, 126 Gibsons Hill, London SW16 3EY. Cheques should be made out to "St Francis of Assisi Catholic Rambler's Club"
Please note: As this is the last reminder, the people who fail to pay their subscription will not be sent any further newsletters.
News and Events
Anne Walsh
Anne Walsh (a member living in Scotland) is coming down to the Chelsea Flower Show in May on an organised 4 day trip, 2 of those travelling, one to visit the Flower Show and one free day in London. She will be staying in Hatfield. She won't be able to do much travelling in that time but would be pleased to meet up with anyone who could come into town that day. It will probably be Saturday 28th May as she imagines that she will go to the show on the Friday rather than the Saturday. If anyone is interested in meeting up with her please let Maurice know.
KAY GAFFNEY R.I.P
Kay Gaffney died on 23rd December 2015.
Before her illness Kay had been a very active member of the club, walking most Sundays and attending many of its activities. She was always good fun and good company, and loved to join in the holidays organised by members and will be remembered for her participation in a number of them, eg: In Poland with Hania Ponietowska (2002); at the Castlebar Walking Festival in Co. Mayo with Bill O'Neil (2004); in Assisi with Barbara Bridle (June 2005); the Lake District - Keswick, with Peter Culba (July 2005); Ushaw - Northern Saints, with Dorothy Hickman (August 2008) Kay was also a keen swimmer.
Her Requiem Mass took place on 13th January at the Catholic Church of St. Augustine, Hoddesdon and was celebrated by the Parish Priest, Father Philip Miller. Fr.Philip is the son of Geoff and Marion Miller, Life Members SFACRC and both very actively involved in it over the years.
.
Having learnt that Kay was a member of the club, Father Philip prefaced his homily by speaking of his regard for the club. . He told us how his mother (Marion) had informed him that Kay had been a member of the 'Catholic walking club which has existed for many decades', and went on to say, 'It happens also to be the club in which my parents met. It was a nice link for me, as obviously I owe my life and very existence to that club and it is heart warming .for me to know that Kay also had appreciated many walks with them over the years'
Later in his homily, Fr. Philip talked about welcoming "Sister Death" as St. Francis put it. Appropriately too, the hymn at the Offertory was the prayer attributed to St. Francis which is recited on all our rambles,, the first line of which is:' Make me a channel of your peace'.
It was a wonderful way to be able to celebrate Kay's life made especially meaningful for us by Fr. Philip's homily for which we thank him most sincerely, and many thanks too, to Geoff and Marion for giving us Fr. Philip.
May Kay now rest in the Peace of the Eternal Kingdom.
If anyone would like to read the full version of Fr. Philip's homily, please contact Maureen Furlong. email: marysia1883@yahoo.co.uk
P.S. Kay was on a holiday to Bruges organised by Maureen.
Monday March 7th.
The 1pm Mass at Westminster Cathedral will be for the deceased members of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Rambler's Club. Do come to it if you are free to do so.
A & B Ecumenical Walking Pilgrimage - Winchester to Canterbury
Saturday August 13th to Sunday August 28th
The theme of the pilgrimage this year is 'walking a prayer for peace'. We shall start and finish along the Pilgrim's Way and stop overnight at Alresford, Alton, Hindhead, Cranleigh, Horsham, Worth Abbey, Forest Row, Tunbridge Wells, Goudhurst, Tenterden, and Challock en route. We shall walk an average of 15 miles per day. We sleep in church, school or community halls, dine together, walk, laugh, sing and pray together, We follow footpaths rather than roads wherever possible. There will be a rest day in Horsham and Tunbridge Wells. Maurice will be leading the day from Horsham to Worth Abbey and Francis the following day from Worth Abbey to Forest Row. Bookings for this pilgrimage can now be taken. For more information and to download a booking form go to: www.thepilgrims.org.uk or contact the bookings secretary Clare Gamble, 30 Blackberrry Lane, Four Marks,GU34 5DF. The cost if you go for the whole fortnight is £160 if you are under 21 but £195 (still very good value) if you are over 21. If you just want to go for 7 nights the cost is £120, otherwise the cost is £17 per night. If you contact Maurice by email a booking form can be sent back to you as an email attachment.
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