The Rossendale Rambler

WINTER WALKS FEATURE IN LANCS. EVENING TELEGRAPH

The splendid picture, reproduced here courtesy of Lancashire Evening Telegraph, featured large on page five of the the paper on the 28th December last year. Together with a caption that was both accurate and did us justice. As advised by R.A. Headquarters, I distributed publicity material to all the local papers about a week before the event but only The Telegraph photographer was up early enough to capture the occasion. The walk itself was a great success and whilst we did not have the numbers we had last year, we all had a good time. See inside story for more details.

WALK CHANGES

The walk on the 21st March will be led by Alan Johnson and will be 9 miles on Longworth Moor. Meet 10.00 a.m. on Kay Street Car Park .

SLIDE SHOW.

Bertha Rostron will treat us to a slide show featuring pictures taken on walks organised by our local group. Meet at the Weavers Cottage on Tuesday 23rd March at 7.30 p.m. There will be refreshments and a raffle for a Berghaus rucksack and Brashier socks kindly donated by Fell and Mountain, our sponsor.

‘RIGHT TO ROAM’ WALK

For those interested, there is a free coach leaving Whalley bus station at 7.30 a.m. on Sunday 14th March for a rally in Oxfordshire, followed by walks round the spectacular Chilterns downlands. For further details ring John Whitehead on 01200 423881 or Ben Brown on 01254 822851. By all accounts it should be a good day out for all.

MYSTERY BENEFACTOR DONATES MONEY

At the committee meeting of the 19th January this year, Alan Johnson was able to tell us that an anonymous benefactor had generously donated the princely sum of £80 towards group expenses. This is certainly good news for the editor and producer of this newsletter as its production and distribution accounts for a hefty chunk of annual expenditure. I did mention that the matter was of some concern to me in the last editorial and I have to say that both I and the rest of the committee are extremely grateful for the gift. We continue to believe that ‘The Rossendale Rambler’ gives identity to our local group and that the news and articles in the publication, contributed to by the readers, keep us informed and in touch with each other. The committee are looking at other ways to raise money. See details below.

CAR BOOT SALE

Whilst there was some response to a 50‘s club, it was not enough to warrant running the draw. Cheques sent will not be cashed. We are now looking for bric-a-brac and other items suitable to sell at a car boot sale in order to raise money. There are no further specific details at this time but any member of the committee can be contacted about contributions which can be collected from your home. It is important to raise funds for the coming year so please help.

'RIGHT TO ROAM' BILL - WHAT YOU CAN (SHOULD) DO TO HELP!

Gordon Prentice’s Right to Roam Bill will be debated in the House of Commons on the 26th March. The bill gives legal freedom to walk over uncultivated mountain, moor, heath and downland in England and Wales, subject to common-sense restrictions. The R.A. urges all members to write to their MP, asking them to support the bill. You can help by writing to Janet Anderson MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. If you support the legislation, there is still time to make your opinion count. Write now, every little helps and who knows, we may yet get New Labour to honour their pledges.

FELL AND MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT TO BE WON

Keith Dawson, the owner of Fell and mountain, has kindly donated some great prizes for a competition in this newsletter and for a raffle to be held later this month. Further details in the ‘Notice Board’ section. Don’t forget to enter the competition or come to the slide show but do go and see what else he has in store. There’s loads to see and remember about the 10% discount for Rossendale Ramblers it may just make the difference when getting that new pair of boots you‘ve wanted!

..AND FINALLY

It has been said over the last umpteen issues but at the risk of repeating myself please give very serious consideration to making some kind of contribution to the pages of this newsletter, as at this stage it does not look as if we will make six pages for the next issue. You do not need to be a great author – just jot something down or give me an idea for a piece of local research that might be interesting for others to read. If you have a favourite walk that you want to share with others jot it down and let me have it. If you have a criticism write me a letter. If you want to praise a particular walk leader let me know, in fact if you have anything that has something to do with walking or the countryside let me have it and we will try to include it in the pages of "The Rossendale Rambler" I can’t say fairer than that can I?

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