It's that time of year already. The beast from the east has come and gone ... twice! Spring is finally here, Easter is nearly upon us, and the Wiltshire group of the LDWA is preparing to host its popular, annual challenge event, the Pewsey Downsaround (PDA) on Sunday 22nd April 2018.

In this month's newsletter:

      The latest on the arrangements for the PDA;

      A last call for volunteers for the Ridgeway 40;

      More on our plan to install a commemorative kissing gate;

      The revised timetable for the Cotswold Way walk;

      Orders are now being taken for Wiltshire LDWA-branded clothing;

      It looks like it's going to be a ceilidh to celebrate our 25th anniversary; and

      This month's walks in and around the county.

Pewsey Downsaround (PDA)

There have been a couple of updates to the list of volunteers since the recent e-mail:

The Scout Hut will be open from 0615hrs onwards and HQ staff are requested to arrive then to assist with setting up. Usually the first entrants will arrive soon after. The CP boxes will be ready for collection from 0700hrs. CP Managers are to ensure they provide chairs and tables.

Thank you in advance to all the volunteers this year. For those members who are unfamiliar with the event, the PDA 2018 information page is available to view by clicking HERE. There is still time to enter.

Ridgeway 40

From Paul Hopkins:

"We still need a few more volunteers, please. This popular one-day 40-mile challenge event along part of the Ridgeway National Trail from Overton Hill to Goring attracts around 250 entrants who walk, run or even drag old tyres (don't ask!). This year's event is on Saturday 12th May and the organisers are looking for volunteers for the checkpoints. The checkpoints are only open during daylight hours and volunteers are paid expenses for petrol.

If you want an enjoyable and sociable day out supporting this great event, please volunteer by contacting me at p@hopkins88.com."

Remembering Mark Rendall

Graham Instrell, Lesley, Andy and I recently spent a second day looking for suitable locations for a kissing gate to commemorate our late chairman's life. We managed to identify three possible locations, all of which are on one or more of the PDA routes. There was one particular favourite, which the Footpath Officer who covers the north of the county for Wiltshire Council had recommended that we visit, following Graham's initial meeting with him.

Cotswold Way

From Bea Therin:

"Well the snow certainly stopped play in relation to the Cotswold Way, the beast from the east has meant that the dates have all had to be moved as follows:

• Sunday 29th April 2018 - Stage 1 - Chipping Campden to Cleeve Hill. 23.5 miles.
• Sunday 22nd July 2018 - Stage 2 - Cleeve Hill to Painswick 24.4 miles
• Sunday 29th July 2018 - Stage 3 - Painswick to Wotton-under-Edge 22.3 miles
• Sunday 30th September 2018 - Stage 4 - Wotton-under-Edge to Cold Ashton 21.7 miles
• Date to be advised - Stage 5 - Cold Ashton to Bath 10.2 miles (with  tour / ice cream / cake stop)

At the moment there are no spaces left for Stage 1 but there are still spaces for Stage 2 onwards. Please let me know if you want to join. I'm really hoping that we’ll now have sunshine for the remainder of the year, but something tells me this is the UK, so beware of icy hailstones in July!"

Further details are available via the Future Events section.

Wiltshire LDWA Clothing

Your committee is putting together another clothing order on behalf of the Wiltshire group. On this occasion we are offering:

• Gildan Dryblend Polo Shirt, with a choice of digital or embroidered logo at £10;
• Henbury Coolplus Wicking Polo Shirt with a choice of digital or embroidered logo at £15; and
• Russell Full Zip Fleece Jacket with an embroidered logo for £20

Each of the aforementioned items is available in a range of sizes and colours.

To make life easier for everyone, orders are being taken via a simple online store which will also accept card payments. Who said we can't enter the 21st century? It is intended to have the first order ready for the PDA. The deadline for ordering is Sunday 8th April 2018, so please get your orders in as soon as possible.

To order your clothing go to https://andy8127.wixsite.com/ldwawilts and enter the password 'LDWA'. The web site will show you stock pictures of the items, colours, and a picture of the logo.

If you would like to see a sample of the logo then please talk to Andy Todd on a walk. Alternatively if you have any questions please contact andy@andytodd.org.uk.

Celebrating Our Silver Jubilee

In the absence of any further suggestions regarding ways to celebrate our 25th anniversary, the committee is going to organise a ceilidh. Details will follow in upcoming newsletters.

Forthcoming Walks

Finally, here's a look ahead to all the group walks and challenge events that are taking place this month within a 50-mile radius of the geographical centre of Wiltshire.

That's it for another newsletter. If you have anything to contribute to future editions, please can you get it to me by the 20th of each month. I look forward to seeing you out on our group walks this month. Enjoy your Easter break ... those of you who are still working for a living!

Warmest regards

Clive

Secretary of the Wiltshire LDWA
WiltshireLDWA@outlook.com