Dear long distance walkers!

I’m writing to introduce myself as the new Walks Secretary for the London LDWA group.

I’ve just taken over from Margaret Romanski, who has done a fantastic job in running the post for the last few years.   Thanks to her efforts, everything is in great shape and it should be easy for me to pick up the reins.

So my first job is to record my thanks, publically, for Margaret’s sterling work in ensuring we have such a good walks programme, week in, week out, to enjoy.

But I’ve got quite a steep “learning curve” to climb, so please bear with me as I pick up the ropes, and learn all the systems.   I apologise in advance for any inevitable early mistakes!

My first task will be to start pulling the walks programme together for next Summer (May-September 2015), so if you’re a leader already, you might like to start thinking about possible walks now.   And if you’ve never led before but would like to, please get do in touch.   Thinking about walks for next Summer gives us all something to look forward to in the gathering gloom of winter.   I’ll be getting in touch with leaders from November onwards.

If you’d like to meet me first hand, I’m also giving an illustrated talk at 8pm next Thursday (23 October) at the Vauxhall Griffin pub (8 Wyvil Rd, London SW8 2TH; 020 7622 0222; http://vauxhallgriffin.com/).   I’ll be talking about a recent 1500 mile Land’s End to John O’Groats backpacking trip which I completed this spring (you might have read about it in Ali's recent newsletter).   The pub also serves food so if you arrive earlier, you can get something to eat.   They will also serve food in the lecture room, if preferred.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to this new challenge, and hope that I’ll be able to meet a few of you face to face next week.   And if you’d like to volunteer to be a new leader next year, even better!

Cheers

Adam Dawson