Other News
   

 

 What has been happening
   

Original 25 Favourite Walks

 

 As stocks of the popular original 25 Favourite Walks are running low, your committee has decided that a further print-run will soon be needed. It is now 5 years since the last revision and so I have agreed to coordinate a further update, probably early in the New Year. I shall be contacting members who have a walk in this book and also looking for volunteers to check walks of those members who are no longer with us or who, for whatever reason, are unable to revise their walk. If you would like to be involved in this exercise please contact me on 01483 416907 or by e-mail at cynthia.chard@btopenworld.com. Cynthia Chard
   

Walking Books

 

 One of our members, Dr David Davies, has given his walking books to the Group. There is no public event in the near future where we could sell them from a stall in aid of group funds, and they remain stored in my garage. They are a varied collection of such books mainly published during the 1980s and 1990s including OS long distance footpath guides and couple of Wainwrights. If anybody is interested please contact me (01428 643624): otherwise I will keep them for an event in 2009 where we have a group stall. Richard Evans
   

Congratulations

 to Peter Horlock on winning the World Championship of the mind game Entropy at the Mind Sports Olympiad in August.  Sheila Doyle
   

South Downs Campaign

 

The pressure on ministers to give a positive decision to include the Western Weald in the proposed National Park continues: there was another rally in Petersfield towards the end of July addressed by Michael Mates MP and RA Director Tom Franklin. It would be nice to be able to report the Secretary of State’s decision in the next newsletter in February, but we might have to wait just a bit longer. Richard Evans
   

Finding funds for the RA

 

 I was summoned to an informal meeting at RA’s Central Office towards the end of August to discuss in an informal way how it could increase the money it gets from legacies. The meeting was chaired by a consultant expert on wills and attended by the Association’s Fundraising Manager and by six or so experienced ramblers, chosen fairly randomly, but who could perhaps contribute some broad ideas on how the RA can increase its legacy income. Many charities rely heavily on legacies, yet there is a feeling that raising money by appeals is becoming increasingly difficult, and that people are becoming irritated by some of the more forceful and intrusive methods of fundraising. It was interesting to hear how RA compared with other charities in raising money from legacies. In fact it is those charities most concerned with potentially fatal disease (eg Cancer Research) and animal welfare that are the leaders in attracting legacies. The RA has a booklet: “following in your footsteps” that is a guide to making or updating your will. If you have not already made a will and left something of your estate to RA, now, as ever, is a good time to think about it. Richard Evans
   

Canadian Memorial Underpass

 

It seems a long time ago that the RA team was negotiating at the A3 Tunnel Public Inquiry and putting a strong case to the Highways Agency to construct the footpath and bridleway underpasses at an early stage of the whole scheme. And now it is really happening!

The Canadian Memorial underpass which links the bridleway across Bramshott Common was the first to open on 12 September this year; and the new underpass for the bridleway at Thursley for the Greensand Way was opened by the Highways Agency on Friday 10 October at Noon. To mark the occasion the Highways Agency invited ramblers, horseriders, cyclists and local people to a short ceremony at the underpass.  Two video clips and some pictures of the event kindly provided by Mary Clarke are available to view on our special events photos page.

Planning walks which cross the A3 safely will certainly be a new experience, opening up more possibilities for interesting routes. Also in a few months' time the underpass for the Hindhead Hill footpaths near Boundless Lane should be open - this has been delayed due to the complexity of pipes and cables in this section.

Sadly one of our team on the Inquiry, Malcolm Clare, the Hampshire Footpath Secretary, died a few months ago - he would have been delighted to see the Bramshott underpass finished. Denis Holmes (Footpath Secretary)
   
  What is being planned
   

Surrey Area AGM

 

The RA Surrey Area AGM is being held at 2 pm on Saturday 7 February 2009 at the Chichester Hall, Witley. This will probably be the first time that the AGM has taken place in Godalming and Haslemere territory. We are hoping that a good number of our members will attend.

The AGM will be preceded by two walks, starting at 10.30 am details of which are included in the G&H walks programme and this will be a good opportunity to meet ramblers from the other Surrey Area Groups of the RA. Following the walks there will be a free lunch in the Chichester Hall, after which the AGM will take place. Please do come along and support this event. Damian Wheeler