Brief AGM Report

We had a successful, though different, AGM via Zoom on 17th November . Malcolm Skelton was awarded the Alf Clewes shield,  5 walk leaders were awarded certificates for their extra help during the summer , Iris Warnock, one of our older walkers, was awarded a certificate for her exploits  (walking the Telford T50 50 Mile Trail in sections, amongst other walks) .  Following Steve’s wish to relinquish the chair, we have a new chair, Naomi Wrighton, who thanked Steve for his stint as chair. Finally, Tristan Haynes gave a very interesting. talk on the Telford Woods project  https://www.smallwoods.org.uk/en/what-we-do/projects/telford-woods-2/

November dates

Dates for your diary. Following today’s committee meeting we have put back the walk leader training until 12th November, see the event https://www.facebook.com/events/1235281583494233 for details. We have also decided that the AGM will be held by Zoom in the afternoon of Tuesday 17th November. It won’t look quite the same as last year’s. Details via the mailing list soon. (Sign up to the list at http://eepurl.com/dM-oYA )

One step forward and two steps back

We have been able to restart most of our walks now, the exceptions are the Monday and Thursday Town Park Walks (lack of leaders) and the Tuesday Stirchley and Wednesday Madeley walks (lack of walkers). The step forward is that the committee are currently keeping the Friday Town Park walk going until permanent leaders can take over again. Here are about half of the walkers last week, the others were more camera shy.

Walk leader certificates presentation at St Georges

On 24th September before the walk in St George’s and Priorslee Lynne Kay ,  our Walking for Health Coordinator Telford &Wrekin ,presented Walk Leader Certificates to Alexis Falconer and Chas Grewal. Congratulations Alexis and Chas. After the presentation all enjoyed a lovely walk. They walk at 10.30 am every Thursday from the car park behind the cricket club in St. Georges.

We are exempt from “the rule of six”

Walking for Health nationally has confirmed on September 10th, that we are exempt from the rule of six. See https://www.ramblers.org.uk/coronavirus

To quote from the email received

We are very happy to confirm that Ramblers Walking for Health walks can continue to organise led walks for up to 30 people, as long as they follow the guidance to restart group walks in a COVID-secure way.

Remember, there is no pressure to restart groups walks until you feel ready to do so.

Why does the “rule of six” not apply to the Ramblers group walks?  

Ramblers and Walking for Health organised group walks are categorised as ‘outdoor physical activity events’. These are exempt from the latest restrictions, as we have already met the protocols, and put extra measures in place to reduce the risks of COVID-19.

Successful restart

Most of our walks are running again in a socially distanced way. The Town Park walks are the only ones that haven’t happened yet, but the committee have stepped in (literally) and have a temporary rota to restart the Friday walk from September 11th. Normally the restriction to 30 people is not a problem on our walks, but they have had to split the Shawbirch walk into 2 walks on occasion. Here are the Apley walkers showing how to socially distance.