Stoke & Newcastle Ramblers

Number

Item

Details/Action

1

Apologies

Attendees

Howard Caton

John Lane (JL), Stephen Merry (SM), Peter Till (PT), Maria Foy (MF), Julie Tilston (JT), John Stanford (JS), Charlie Bigley (CB), Karen Hardwick (KH), Linda Wilson (LW) Kevin Wilshaw (KW) Alan Bell (AB), Brian Wood (BW).

2

Minutes from last meeting

The minutes from the last meeting were accepted.

3

Matters arising from last minutes

No issues were raised

4

Reports of officers

LW confirmed that she would be standing down as Social Secretary at the AGM

PT said there were report templates on the website that were no longer required and suggested that they could be removed. It was agreed that any templates that were not needed would be removed. KM would be able to do this.

SM commented that it continued to be difficult to fill the walks program. It was still a challenge getting walk leaders. There were difficulties on Sundays with the same small cohort of leaders leading walks. On it was slightly less difficult to get walks arranged.

5

Location of first aid kits

The 4 first aid kits had been located. They were being held by the following ...

·       CB and the long-distance walkers

·       Linda Bourne

·       John Stanford

·       Karen Mountford

6

Collection of tools from Alan Bell.

LW confirmed that the footpath maintenance team had now reformed however Howard was unwell at the moment. They were in touch with Nigel from the council who would organise future maintenance activities. It was agreed that it was preferable to keep the tools within the group rather than giving them to another group or away however there was a problem about where the tools could be stored.  JT and JS said that they might have some room to store equipment. It was agreed that AB, JT and JS would work together to try to re home the equipment.

7

2026 weekend away

MF confirmed that we needed to get 30 people for the Saturday evening meal however currently only 15 people had registered. It was agreed to send out a further communication. LW will check with the venue if they will take fewer numbers if less than 30 people showed an interest.

Not a lot of people coming forward to lead a walk. – Linda Bourne and Linda Lees were planning to do one.  Julie and Allan may go up on the Friday to recce a walk. It proposed that we could contact the local Ramblers groups to see if they could lead a walk or suggest walks. KH said she would contact a group local to Ilkley.

JT said that it seemed to be getting more difficult to arrange walks for the weekend away and perhaps we should consider doing something different.  JT would investigate using HF for a weekend away.   CB said that Penny Meaking from Stone group could be a good contact to find out how HF holidays have worked for their group. JT would also look at Cairngorm tours.

8

Group AGM update

The AGM would be on Sunday 25th October at Scholar Green Village Hall. PT confirmed that a deposit had been paid for the hall. CB will put on a walk prior to the meeting.

JT asked how the AGM was to be communicated.  SM confirmed that it would be e mailed to the members and was already on the website. Some concern was raised about the fact that members who did not have an e mail address may not know about the AGM. It was agreed that as the Ramblers Association preferred the approach it should be sufficient.

Of the committee members present all indicated they would continue with the exception of LW and JL who had previously indicated that they would be standing down.

9

Xmas meal update and social activities

LW and MF had contacted the red bull at church Lawton and were waiting for a menu to come through.  They have put in a provisional booking for 6th December. SM can lead a walk. Number limit is 32. E mail to be sent out to contact MF about the event – numbers needed.

Boxing Day plus 2 will be 28th December – LW said that she had not been able to work on this yet and planned to do so in the Autumn

10

AOB

PT said that the balance in the bank meant that the group would not be taking any funds from central office again this year.

MF and LW confirmed a Barn dance is being organised for 31 October at Swynnerton village hall – details to be sent out – it was agreed that the event needed to be open to non ramblers to make it viable.

Thanks were extended to Julie and Allan for arranging the crown green bowling event.

MF and LW are considering another social at Bridge street ale house.

It was suggested we should encourage car sharing to help people keep costs down.  Car sharing should be mentioned on all published walks.  It was recognised that one of the main challenges was finding a place to park cars free of charge.

AB mentioned that in his role a Footpath officer he had been advised by Staffordshire Moorlands a new path had been created near Butterton.  AB has reported to central office that the walk is dangerous as it goes along a busy road. AB has proposed moving the path 15-20m further along the hedge line to reduce the risk to walkers.

11

Date of next meeting

AGM on 25th October.  Meeting closed 20.40