BEAR ESSENTIALS The Newsletter of : -
IWA Warwickshire Branch Issue No. 42 – April 2015.
IWAlk for WRG.
We all walked for WRG.
Some of you may remember that nd Sunday February 22 was not the best of days weather-wise, but I’m sure that 5 of our branch members in particular will never forget it. As you will see to the right Colin, Jane, Pat, Nick and Alpha all undertook a sponsored 8 mile walk on that day, to help raise funds for WRG to purchase two new vans. The route took in the Grand Union and Stratford canal towpaths, and a series of lanes and footpaths around Lapworth, Rowington and Packwood. When planned, the hope was to raise at least £1,000 towards the £50,000 needed to purchase the two vans. On the day, and despite the weather, some 36 walkers including our National Chairman Les Etheridge and his wife Anne raised some £2,500. Of this total, our intrepid branch members contributed several hundred pounds, including an impressive £248 from Alpha – equating to £62 per paw! Thirteen branch members helped with the organisation – including the marshalling.
Photos by Richard Sanders
However, perhaps unsurprisingly, the largest group of participants came from the wrgies themselves. And most of them, as here on the right, were not just content to do one lap of the 8 mile course – but four! Yes, your maths is correct, that adds up to 32 miles in the day - but some of them had the audacity to ‘cheat’…..They jogged ! Who said “oh to be young again” ! Young or old(er), they all deserve all our thanks and appreciation.
For once, our front page is not dominated by hi-viz – but the mud and the smiles are still there. This has prompted me to wonder again what it is about walking or working alongside our waterways that seems to put these smiles on our faces. I’ve read my thesaurus from cover to cover and still can’t find the single word that sums up the good feelings that we all seem to get from these activities. Nevertheless, in what is the diametric opposite of a health warning, I urge you all to read on about our branch committee’s plans to keep these smiles on our faces with our summer programme of walk and work activities. However, in doing so, please note Richard’s metaphorical ‘health warning’ on page 2. Editor.
Ian Fletcher.
Photo by WRG
Branch Committee 2015-16. Following the election of members to the committee at the AGM, and the subsequent meeting of the committee to elect its officers; the Branch Committee now comprises:Chairman: Treasurer: Branch Secretary: Minutes Secretary: Committee Members:
Richard Sanders. Ian Jackson. Greta Russell. Muriel Richardson. Carole Nicholson. Anthony Davies.
If you would like more information about becoming a committee member, or to assist the Branch in a noncommittee role; e-mail: warwickshire@waterways.org.uk or phone the Branch Secretary on 02476 442701. Roles currently vacant are:- Programme Secretary, Walks Co-ordinator and Publicity Officer.