BIGGAR RAMBLERS
Walking in Clydesdale
www.biggarramblers.co.uk NEWSLETTER October 2014
Chairman’s Bit
We are fast approaching November and the end of my three years as your Chairman. It has been an interesting and enjoyable time with the variety of walks, meeting new people and getting involved in different things. One thing I have appreciated has been the support and interest from the Committee and individual members during this time. I know I haven’t been seen much since early July but family commitments have taken priority. We have two main events coming up: our AGM in November and our Christmas Dinner which will be held again in New Lanark (well we did ask for alternatives ideas for venues, but none were put forward).
After last year’s successful Scottish Borders Walking Festival in which some of us helped out as leaders, Innerleithen decided to hold a mini festival at the end of May and I was asked to repeat our walk from Peebles to The Glen. Ably assisted by Isobel and Blane, our route was Kailzie Hill, Kirkhope Law, Birkscairn Hill (a 661 metre Donald) then down to The Glen, former home of the Tennant family, and out to Kirkhouse.
In July I led a walk with a difference - a map and compass workshop which covered the basics of navigation. Before leaving the car park, everyone learned about grid references and pacing out 100 metres. This skill was practised for the first part of the walk and then we learned how to use the compass, and transfer bearings from the O.S. map to planet earth. The big exercise using the compass was to plot and walk on a bearing from Stobo Hopehead to the summit of Hammerhead. I’m glad to say most participants arrived at the right place! The final exercise was to navigate a route from Trehanna back to the cars. I think everyone enjoyed the day and found it to be worthwhile.
from Brian
Winter Walkies
Once again a really attractive programme of walks from John. While the east winds blow and the snow and ice pile up, we will be visiting the Kelpies, the Forth Road Bridge, the Wilsontown peat pond and Melbourne - the World is our oyster! And thanks as always to all our leaders for their time and effort. Compared with some other Groups, we are very lucky at Biggar to have such a good group of people willing to lead. But we do need more - how about it?
Mr. Gascoigne’s Farm
In the last Newsletter we reported some difference of opinion occurred with a farmer on our walk to Cardon Hill back in March and the matter was passed to the Access Officer at Scottish Borders Council. The outcome is that the Access Officer and the landowner have agreed an alternative route. This is about 300 metres to the east and leads to a gate on another track that joins the original track beyond the disputed territory. A good result, and Brian has passed this information to Ramblers Scotland for forwarding to other local Groups. This is a good example of how such situations should be dealt with. Always stay calm and polite, explain the position re access to land in Scotland and how we follow the Countryside Code, note the exact location and details and take photos of any obstruction, notices etc., comply with any request to divert or leave the area and report the matter as soon as possible to the Local Authority Access Officer and to Ramblers Scotland.
Of course, in Texas they’d just have a shoot-out, but can’t do that here unfortunately! – Ed.
Enjoy Dawyck with Chris
We hear from Sandy Gilchrist that funding for a memorial to Chris Lyall was comfortably reached and a nice seat purchased, with a suitable plaque, which is now in place in Dawyck Gardens, one of Chris’s favourite places. It is quite near the entrance, up the middle road a bit and round to the left, or through the disabled access gate. We hope people will take a walk round that way, through the beautiful gardens and remember the lovely walks that we used to enjoy with Chris.
The AGM cometh
This will be held at the Elphinstone in Biggar High Street on Monday 10th November at 7.0 pm. The main issue this year is that six members of the Committee are coming to the end of their 3-year stretch. These are the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Press Secretary, Social Secretary and Newsletter Editor/Area Rep. One or two of us may decide to continue but others will feel like a rest, and therefore some new people will certainly be needed to join the Committee and keep our Group functioning effectively. Please give some thought to joining the team and contributing to Biggar Ramblers’ successful future. You can contact any Committee member (see the back of your walks programme) or just come along to the AGM. You will be made most welcome.
Forthcoming Attractions
You will see from the enclosed letter that we are re-visiting the New Lanark Hotel for our popular Christmas Dinner in December. Don’t forget to book the hotel soon if you are staying overnight and remember to let them know you are part of our Group attending the “Carols by Candlelight” in order to get a special rate!
If you would like to come to the Clydesdale to Solway Area AGM to see what the local Area gets up to, it is on Sat. January 17th at Hamilton. Details will be circulated later.
Fun and Games
As we know, Biggar Ramblers get everywhere and this Summer was no exception. As related in the previous Newsletter, Lynn took part in the Baton Relay in the run up to the Commonwealth Games. Later on, Lesley Glidden and Jean and Bob Barr volunteered at the Games, Lesley as part of the opening ceremony and Jean and Bob as “Clydesiders”. Lesley had the chance to be a mascot but decided to be one of the people with a chair lining the track to keep the athletes in order. She had over 100 hours of rehearsal, met many of the athletes and enjoyed a ceilidh with a large gentleman from Uganda, successfully guiding him around the Gay Gordons! But Lesley admits that the Scotties stole the show, with their own bus and their own tent and lots of rehearsals. It was all a fantastic experience which Lesley will never forget.
Jean was at the Media Centre at SECC. After a lot of training she was issued with uniform and her duty rosters. With the fellow members of her team, she directed journalists, media personnel and athletes to their correct buses and helped to ensure the smooth running of the whole operation. Shifts were long and hard and Jean had little shelter from the baking sun, and she also got soaked when it rained. She particularly enjoyed meeting the bus drivers, many from Ulster. Food was a sore point – sandwiches for lunch and dinner for three weeks. But she is proud to have been part of the Games and proud to have worked with all her colleagues to make them such a success.
After training at Hampden Park, Bob was based at the Ravenscraig Recreation Centre with training areas for weight lifting, judo, wrestling and gymnastics. The athletes came from the Village by bus and Bob’s job was to control the transport operation and direct the athletes to their appropriate locations. A significant number were disabled and training on the power weights. Following this, Bob transferred to Dalzell Park where some of the Rugby Sevens teams were to train. Medics, physiotherapists and ice baths were on hand to keep the teams fit and well. The athletes were very appreciative of the Clydesiders’ support and help, and Bob had the added bonus of being able to watch Motherwell FC in training. Like Jean, Bob found it quite physically challenging but it was great to be part of the Team and he would do it all again tomorrow.
Very well done to Lynn, Lesley, Jean and Bob and thanks for telling us about your experiences.
And Finally
Congratulations are in order to Sue Bakker who won a top prize in the “Peebles in Bloom” competition, and to Brian Henry who was highly commended for his entry in the latest “Walk” Magazine” photo competition.
We hope you found this Newsletter interesting. Contributions welcomed for the next edition.
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Biggar Ramblers is part of The Ramblers Association, a registered charity (Scotland no. SC039799, England & Wales no. 1093577) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales (no. 4458492). Registered Office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW