What a glorious summer, just the way it should be and how we remember the golden summers of long, long ago! Shorts and sandals were out again, legs emerged and gradually lost their waxy white pallor, though why is it my feet keep their stripes as my legs go pale again?
I’m not going to extol the virtues of walking this time – just read the piece on Stormin’ Norman to see how good it is for you! I think he also shows the other qualities needed for a long and healthy life: lots of social inter-reactions with family and friends, always active, don’t smoke, alcohol in moderation, a balanced diet, not too thin or too fat and above all, a positive attitude. I only ever hear him count his blessings, never bemoan his fate.
If anyone else (of any age!) is going to take on a challenge, we’d be happy to shout about it for you too.
Please take note of the advice about a first aid kit to carry on walks. Your leaders all try to bring some basics but I think everybody should take some responsibility to bring something useful. Come to the Leaders and Back-ups meeting next year to get your FREE first aid talk! I also feel everyone should be aware of basic life support – for everyday life, not just out in the wilds.
There’s a lot going on over the next year so make sure you put the dates in your diary and send off the forms!
Penny Smith
Contents Enclosures
Moya’s Musings AGM Agenda
Event Secretary’s Report AGM Lunch Booking Form
Thursday Walks AGM Nomination Form
New train Service and walks New Year Dinner Booking Form
Subscription Renewal Cheltenham Booking Form
Norman Conquest Membership Renewal Form
Proposed Bus Cuts Possible impact of proposed bus cuts
Walk Leader’s Check List – appendix
Coach Walks
Coach Walk Report
Holiday Report
2014 Holidays
2014 YHA holiday
Cheltenham Weekend
AGM
AGM Photos
Gifts
Penelope’s Pantry
New Year Dinner
Correspondence
Dates for the diary
Funnies from a variety of anonymous sources!
Congratulations, you have won either £1000 cash or tickets to see Elvis Presley.
Press 1 for the money, 2 for the show......
Moya’s Musings
In my last Musings I hoped that in my next one I would be commenting on the heat wave and low and behold we have had a glorious summer! However it was preceded by a cold damp Spring when John and I were touring the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland in a motor home. We had a wonderful time but the shorts and "T" shirts never came out of the bag - the strong cold winds persisted wherever we went. We did manage to walk almost every day for 10 weeks - the scenery was stunning and the history amazing.
Once again it is time for the Annual General Meeting and the Agenda and associated papers are enclosed. Please attend and let your voice be heard. This year Sheila Gordon will be our guest speaker. She is the author of "Lady Anne's Way". Her talk will take us on a journey of 100 miles from Skipton to Penrith along the Lady Anne Highway.
Several officers and committee members are due for re election on the two year cycle. Whilst most existing committee members and officers have indicated that they are happy to stand for re election, if you wish to join the committee please complete the enclosed election form – the committee always welcomes “new blood”.
This year we are once again able to hold the subscription at £8 per household. I would like to thank those who have made donations to the Society.
Thank you to all those who had faith in John's holiday organisation and came on the Brighton week - we all had a wonderful time. The weather was hot, the hotel comfortable and clean and although the food wasn't 5 star it was plentiful and good. Thank you to Penny for organising what I hear was a very successful weekend in Alnwick.
We have had some wonderful walking over the summer. However, following an accident on a train walk we are recommending that walk leaders carry a basic first aid kit.
The coach walks still need your support and because we are losing money we feel we need to raise the fee to £12 as from November 2013. This is the first rise in several years and is still excellent value for money - please join us and try walking in some of the different areas that the coach takes us to.
Moya McNamara
I can't stop thinking about prisons. My mind works in strangeways.
Event Secretary’s Report
We must have some amazingly good members to attract such good weather – Brighton and Alnwick were both spent in glorious sunshine! The other thing they had in common was the variety of “cultural” attractions to see ……. Brighton was full of some incredible sights – and that was just the people! We were able to do all the fun of the fair as well as the Pavilion. Alnwick had the stunning castle where broomstick flying lessons were available for fans of Hogwarts and Harry Potter and the wonderful gardens plus the most incredible book shop.
Thanks must go to the noble people who led the walks and did so well despite boldly going where they had not been before. John has organised some wonderful holidays for next year – but we can’t get him to guarantee the weather though the planning and organisation are sure to be up to standard.
Also for next year, the Ride2Stride festival will be happening again having been such a success this year. We will be contributing walks and look forward to seeing you on the moors or in the pub for the entertainment afterwards!
We have anniversaries to celebrate the first walk from the line and saving the Settle – Carlisle line. Many thanks to Joyce Broughton – our little piece of living history!
The AGM and New Year Dinner are coming up and are not to be missed – meet the committee and have a good moan (or, ideally, make some constructive comments!) and have a really good time.
Finally – please contact me for your really useful and attractive Friends of DalesRail jute bag! There really are only a few left.
Penny Smith for Diane Taylor
Lady who goes camping must beware of evil intent.
Thursday Walks
Please note that the Thursday walk in January 2014 will be on the 2nd Thursday , not the 1st Thursday (i.e. it will be on 9th, not 2nd January). This is because there will be a train walk on 1st January 2014.
Squirrel who runs up woman's leg will not find nuts.
Lancashire Link – Ribble Valley Rambler
A new rail service from Blackpool to Hellifield via the Ribble Valley
We all know we are not the only walking group in the world, nor even the only train walking group. In fact we are not even the only DalesRail group. Many of you will be aware of “Lancashire DalesRail” organised by Lancashire Rail Ramblers which involves a Sunday train from Blackpool to Carlisle, via Preston, Blackburn, Clitheroe and through the Ribble Valley to join the Settle/Carlisle line at Hellifield before proceeding up through countryside which we know and love from our regular Saturday walks. Up to 6 guided walks (occasionally more!) of varying lengths and grade are on offer each Sunday over the summer period from different stations up the line. The Lancashire DalesRail season normally starts around Easter and finishes around October which means no trains or walks throughout the winter months from the Settle/Carlisle line.
However this year, in a brand new venture, Northern Rail are to provide a train service from Blackpool to Hellifield and back every Sunday from 15 September 2013 till 11 May 2014. This new service is called the Ribble Valley Rambler. Unlike the summer DalesRail service, this train will terminate at Hellifield, but will connect there with the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle service, offering the chance of a day out in the Dales or further afield up the line for travellers from Lancashire. For the outward journey, the Ribble Valley Rambler arrives at Hellifield at 0952, with a forward connection to Carlisle at 1002. The returning 1259 Carlisle to Leeds service arrives at Hellifield at 1447, connecting with the Ribble Valley Rambler train at 1455 for its return journey to Lancashire. Northern Rail have agreed it will wait for 10 minutes in case of a late running connection.
Admittedly the time available is limited, especially for anyone wanting to travel all the way to Carlisle, but for walkers it is still possible to have between four and five hours walking time lower down the line, particularly around the Hellifield and Settle area. For the first time, this new rail service also allows travellers from Hellifield to venture into Lancashire and back the same day via the Ribble Valley line. Clitheroe, Whalley, Blackburn and Preston are within reach.
A programme of guided walks to support the Ribble Valley Rambler service is being jointly provided by ourselves, Friends of Settle Carlisle line and Lancashire Rail Ramblers. Further details of these, plus timetable and fares information can be found on the Ribble Valley Rambler website at http://ribblevalleyrambler.wordpress.com/. Walks led by Friends of DalesRail will take place on 12 January, 9 February, 9 March, 13 April and 11 May 2014. Because of time constraints due to the train connection back to Lancashire, these walks are limited to the 7-8 mile range and are graded easy or easy/moderate. Full details of these can be found on our own website, the 2014 member’s calendar and in the next train walks programme leaflet.
Ever since the Ribble Valley line re-opened to passenger services in the 1990s, it has been a long-held ambition by many to have the line used by a regular service between Clitheroe and Hellifield, thus opening up both Lancashire and Yorkshire to traffic in both directions. Whilst this new Ribble Valley Rambler service may not totally achieve that, it is certainly a significant step in the right direction.
Philip Birtwistle
Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
Membership Renewal
Please renew your membership ASAP using the enclosed renewal form or just do an electronic payment. Receipts, membership cards and calendars will be given out at the AGM or posted out shortly afterwards.
At £8 per household, this is remarkably good value as you get the calendar, newsletter and the access to innumerable walks from train and coach and wonderful holiday opportunities.
To allow us to give you updates promptly (and cut postage costs), we’d be grateful if you would give your e-mail address. This still entitles you to receive your newsletter by post if you wish. Postage costs are now a huge drain on the budget and we’d be grateful if you would consider making a donation if you need to have the newsletter by post.
To renew, please complete the membership renewal form and send a cheque for £8.00 payable to Friends of DalesRail to Elizabeth Myers, [text removed] [text removed] Please state names of each person in household who wishes to be a member as only members can participate in the holidays and other member-only events. Please add their age if under 16 years old.
If your details have changed, please inform me at the above address or [text removed].
Thank you to those who have already renewed their membership and many thanks for donations made which help to offset our postage costs.
Elizabeth Myers
Man who runs in front of car gets tired. Man who runs behind car gets exhausted.
Subscription Renewal
Even Friends of DalesRail has been dragged kicking and screaming into the Twenty First Century in that from this year we are able to offer the option of renewing your annual subscription by Funds Transfer (which I think is the technical term). In other words, if you do your banking electronically over the internet you can now just arrange a simple transfer to our bank account saving you the fuss and bother of writing out and posting a cheque, and we will sort out the rest. If you wish to avail yourself of this facility the details are:
Name of Bank Account: Friends of DalesRail
Sort Code: 05-03-13
Account Number: 32651823
I’m afraid this facility is only available to existing members renewing their subscription; new members will need to fill out the form on the programme and send it, with a cheque to Elizabeth Myers (Membership Secretary) for her to register your details.
If you are an existing member and use the bank transfer you will need to contact Elizabeth Myers if your details (eg address, phone number or email address) have changed or you may miss out on the newsletter or updates.
May I remind you that subscriptions for next year are due by 1st December 2013 but so you don’t forget they can be paid any time from now. Also generous donations have helped keep our subscriptions at a low level for several years now, so please continue to give generously even if you pay electronically.
After extremely careful consideration in view of the continuing rate of inflation, your committee has decided to keep the subscription level at £8.00 for next year, but any additional contribution will be gratefully received.