Social Events

The Annual Lunch

Having been postponed from the 10 to 31 January because of heavy snowfalls, the annual lunch provided another very enjoyable occasion at the Georgian House Hotel in Haslemere. On a bright, frosty morning forty-four people gathered at the Town Car Park for a 5 mile walk before lunch. We set off in two groups, one going clockwise, the other counter-clockwise along the same route. This took us along the Greensand Way, through Coombe Head and Weydown Common, a pleasantly undulating and lightly wooded area to the north-west of Haslemere. We were well sheltered from the biting wind and carefully shepherded by our leaders around hazardous icy patches and slippery roads. Halfway, as planned, we met up with the other group and had a warming coffee stop. Seventy-seven people sat down for lunch at nine tables all with colourful photographic menus providing a much needed reminder of meal choices and an entertaining record of some recent winter walks. Grateful thanks for these and all the other careful organisation were given by our Chairman Jim Chipchase to Muriel and Don Clark, Damian Wheeler and the walks leaders Mike Pope and Richard Evans. He finished (mysteriously) by telling us he had read that “Old people shouldn't eat healthy food as they need all the preservatives they can get”!  Margaret Baxter

Photographic Evening Saturday 20 March

The evening was a feast of photographs and food.  It began with Heather Dillon taking us through a visit to Patagonia where at Ushuaia stands the most southerly Post Office in the world.  Will Lindsay’s photographs included his favourites, one being on the Lancashire coast where statues are set in sand with a wind farm in the background.  Barry Holland took us on a Ramblers’ cruise and walk to Norway with fjords, flowers and the famous Flåmsbana railway.   Back to Britain with David Hutton taking us to Scottish islands, from the Hebrides to Barra to seals basking in the sun.  Wendy Hoare started in Singapore with her far eastern snapshots.  We saw Hindu shrines, dragons and even dyed cockerels. Muriel Clark went to Zermatt.  With snow and glaciers and precarious footpaths her walks were challenging. Denis and Susan Holmes showed us photos of the Scottish Parliament to start their talk followed by the Royal Yacht Britannia and then to the island of Raasay.  Zena Chaddock and Jean Harker took turns to take us to Sri Lanka.  We saw elephants, temples and shrines, Tuc Tucs, tea plantations and more. To end the evening Stanley Port visited the Luberon, a region in France, with its limestone villages set in hilltops.  In between all this we had lots of lovely food and a very generous raffle. Thank you, everyone, for such a lovely evening. Ann Clover

2010 AGM

A note for your diaries - the Godalming & Haslemere Ramblers AGM will take place on Saturday 20 November 2010, 7.30pm, at St. Hilary's School, Holloway Hill, Godalming. Look out for further details later in the year.  Lucy Baier

Ramblers' 75 Years and Haslemere 40 Years Celebrations 31 July

We will start our celebrations on Saturday 31 July with a 5½ mile walk from Haslemere station car park at 2pm to Black Down. Leader: Mike Pope 01428 651385 and then continue with a Celebration Social starting at 6 pm at the Haslemere Museum. There is no charge for the evening but please bring either a main course or pudding for about six people.  It will be best if you park in the main Town Haslemere Car Park, SU 904 328, which is only a short walk away from the Museum.

Please contact Jill Billett, 11 Windy Wood, Godalming, GU7 1XX, by 20 July.

There will be a few games organised for those who would like to participate. If wet, the party will be transferred indoors, where you will probably require reading glasses, if applicable. Jill’s telephone number is 01483 417852.  Damian Wheeler

Skittles Social Evening Saturday 16 October

A skittles social evening and supper is being arranged on Saturday 16 October at the The Wey Inn, at the junction of Chalk Road and Meadrow, Godalming, starting at 7.15 pm. Previous skittles evenings have been great fun. The cost is the same as the last event two years ago.

The price of the main meal together with the cost of hiring the Function Room with skittle alley and equipment is £9 per head. Damian Wheeler