At our recent Annual General Meeting Di Nathan, Ken Clare and Steve Elms stood down from the Committee. I wish to again place on record our thanks for the splendid work that they each did in their respective Committee roles. Kate Roffey was elected as Recruitment Officer, Adam Wilson as Walks Co-ordinator and Anne Richards as joint Social Secretary.

There was a lively debate on the proposal to change our name to East Surrey Walkers before a vote that achieved the required two-thirds majority. We will now be using the name in our publicity efforts but, of course, we still retain exactly the same relationship with The Ramblers. The decision to change the venue and format of our AGM was well received and so we intend to continue with a Saturday afternoon AGM in 2012.

As I have previously mentioned, there is a particular focus on membership throughout The Ramblers at present. We have managed to slightly increase our total membership this year, the only group in the Surrey Area to do so. Surrey Area will be awarding a trophy at the Area AGM to the group with the best membership performance and we are in with a chance of winning it. So, please, one final effort to recruit more new members before the end of the year!

Adam has taken on his new role of Walks Co-ordinator with much enthusiasm and is looking for more members to lead walks. If we are to continue to offer nearly 40 walks each quarter we need members to lead and Adam, together with Steve Elms, plan to hold a guidance session for potential new leaders. Please do contact Adam if you would be interested in attending.

Our Autumn Social proved to be a great success. Rosie’s sister, Sarah Cox, gave an enthralling talk on her work in the police service, we than had a fish and chips supper after which Steve rounded off the evening with a taster session of the recent trip to Ethiopia. Many thanks to Rosie and Anne for organising the evening.

We have a morning walk on Wednesday 28 December, this was omitted from the last quarter’s programme. Meet at 10.00am at N.T. car park opposite Golf Clubhouse, Limpsfield Common (Grid Ref. TQ411527) Explorer map 147, for a 5.5 mile walk that I will be leading (01883 716980). A good way to clear those post Christmas blues!

By the time you read this firm dates should have been announced for the 2012 Group holidays. If you wish to join them, please ensure that your firm commitment and deposit are sent before the deadlines. [Details on the News page]

On Saturday 4 February we will be combining our morning walk with the Surrey Area AGM proceedings. Please see the walks programme for more details. Afterwards there will be lunch provided before the AGM in the afternoon. I do hope that many of our members will attend both the walk and the AGM to support John Nathan as Area Chairman.

Good news, the application to divert the Leigh Mill Pond footpath at Godstone has been rejected by Surrey C.C. Many thanks to those members who individually objected and particularly to those who spoke at the meeting. Not yet a complete victory as the landowner may appeal, but we have certainly won Round 1!

Finally, I hope you have a lovely Christmas holiday and that you can look forward to lots of enjoyable walking in 2012.

Tony Pearson
Chairman
December 2011