We're three quarters of the way through what has already been a busy year, and yet there is still plenty more to look forward to. We're only a few weeks away from the Wiltshire 50, organised by Andy Todd ... and I'm beginning to get a little nervous. That will be followed by Adrian Crocker's weekend away to Exmoor. There's also the little matter of completing the Cotswold Way, led by Bea Therin. And, as if that wasn't enough, we have our xmas meal and Annual General Meeting to look forward to. So, without further ado ...

In this month's newsletter:

• Committee Meeting on 19th September 2018;
• 25th Anniversary Ceilidh;
• A Wiltshire 50 - The Deverill's Rings;
• Xmas Meal and Annual General Meeting; and
• This month's walks in and around the county.

Committee Meeting on 19th September 2018

The key points from the recent committee meeting are as follows:

• Andy will manage the group’s activities on SIEntries, including creating a login for Richard Hotchkiss;
• Lesley Bellis and Clare Staff will be organising the catering for the Wiltshire 50. Soup and sandwiches will be available at the end of the first circuit, at around 1330/1400hrs. Cottage pie will be available at the end of the second circuit, at around 1930/2000hrs. Cake will also be available. 20+ walkers are expected to take part in the event;
• Those members (and their partners) who have contributed to the running of the group in 2018 will have their xmas meal subsidised, i.e. they will only have to pay £10 instead of £22.50;
• The Wiltshire LDWA will be sharing the manning of the Alston Moor checkpoint on next year’s Hadrian Hundred with the Kent LDWA. We will be manning it from 0200hrs until 1000hrs on the Sunday morning, with the Kent group taking over until the checkpoint closes at 1800hrs;
• Clive will be attending LDWA local groups weekend in Kent in November;
• Andy reported that there is a full walks programme for the first third of 2019;
• The commemorative gate and accompanying plaque have been made, but delivery of the gate has been delayed. No installation date has been agreed.
• Online entry for the Pewsey Downsaround (PDA) will open on 1st December 2018. The committee agreed to raise the entrance fee to £12 for members and £18 for non-members. The committee accepted Andy’s proposal that Checkpoint 4 be moved the Huish church with the route altered accordingly. Andy was asked to review the checkpoint timings. The scout hut at Pewsey and the sports and social club at Avebury have both been booked. The church at Calstone Wellington will once again host Checkpoint 2, with a donation being made to parish funds. Lesley will contact Huish church so that a similar arrangement can be agreed. The committee agreed that walkers and runners would set off at separate times;
• Lesley thanked Carol Holmes for her outstanding efforts as Treasurer. Subject to the outcome of the AGM, Richard is expected to take over as Treasurer, with Andy agreeing to continue as walks coordinator; and
• Dorset LDWA has invited us to run Checkpoint 1 on the Dorset Giant from 1115hrs to 1315hrs on 13th April 2019 in Abbotsbury.

25th Anniversary Ceilidh

From Lesley: "Thank you to all those who attended our 25th anniversary ceilidh, especially our friends from other groups who joined us to make it such a memorable occasion. The hall was decked with bunting and our banners, although it was best not to ask who attached them so far up the walls. Attempting to dance the correct steps caused a great deal of laughter and I am sure we invented several new steps that no-one had seen before, least of all the band and our very patient caller.  Thanks to John Walker for cutting our celebration cake at the interval. Supper consisted of an array of splendid dishes provided by members. It really was an excellent feast and the perfect way to celebrate 25 years of walking. Finally, if anyone is missing a glass bowl, please get in touch, so I can return it."

A Wiltshire 50 - The Deverills' Rings   <<< Last Call >>>

From Andy:

"This 50-mile group walk takes place on the 13th/14th October and is based in the Upper Deverills. The route consists of 3 different, roughly equal rings looping out from and back to the base location, so you can do 1, 2 or 3 rings.

This is an ideal opportunity for people to try a longer walk, or a night walk. This will be a group walk, however if individuals want to go at their own pace then that is not a problem, setting their own start times to match the opening hours of the hall. A .gpx file will be available.

We have booked the hall in the village and will be operating a 'simple' level of catering. There will be a charge to cover the hall and food, and numbers will be limited. For more information and to book a space, please contact me at andy@andytodd.org.uk."

Xmas Meal and Annual General Meeting (AGM)

This year's xmas meal and AGM will take place on 2nd December 2018 at the Seven Stars, Winsley. Please scroll down to view the menu. For all those who have either led walks or marshalled we will be subsidising the meal, reducing the cost to £10.00. The full price will be £22.50. Please e-mail your menu choice to lesley.bellis842@btinternet.com by 1st November 2018. This has to be the last date for menu choices as venue needs to know the choices as soon as possible.  We have permission to park in their car park prior to our walk which Bruce Barclay will be leading and expects to finish by 1230hrs, Lesley will be collecting all monies after the walk BEFORE you go into the pub. Lunch will be served at 1330hrs followed by our AGM.

As per the 3-year rule in the group's constitution, the Treasurer and Walks Secretary roles need to be re-elected at the AGM. Richard Hotchkiss has been invited to fill the role of Treasurer vacated by Carol Holmes; and Andy Todd is willing to serve as Walks Secretary for a further year. Further nominations are invited for both roles. Motions are also invited from members for discussion at the AGM. Nominations and motions must be received by the group's Secretary by Sunday 18th November 2018.

Forthcoming Walks

Finally, here's the usual 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.

This e-mail has been sent to all Primary and Associate group members. If you wish to opt out of receiving e-mails from us, you will need to change your e-mail preferences by logging onto the LDWA website.

That's it for another newsletter. All our newsletters are available via the Wiltshire LDWA website. 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.

Warmest regards

Clive

Secretary of the Wiltshire LDWA
WiltshireLDWA@outlook.com