Mid November 2023

Hello and welcome to your mid-November update from Essex and Herts.

Social Walks

We haven't got any more social walks arranged for November, but I know lots of you will be out on BBN's Steppingley Step this Sunday, and on the Stansted Stagger Marshals' walk the following Sunday.

Details of our December social walks are below but there are still plenty of free dates both in the run up to and after Christmas. If there's a walk you’d be willing to lead, please pick a free date from the ‘Available Walk Dates’ tab on our website, and send Lizzie all the details on a ‘New Walk’ form. If you can’t download and use the form, please email Lizzie the details, in the order shown on the form, as it is so much quicker for Lizzie to upload it all onto the website, and it ensures she gets all the necessary information in one hit. For midweek walks, please pick your day and date, and Lizzie will add it into the spreadsheet. Email: essexandherts.walks@ldwa.org.uk

Sunday 3rd December, Secret Santa Walk. 13.7 miles. 9am, Willingale Village Hall car park, Willingale, CM5 0SN. Leaders: Lizzie and Mike

From Willingale we will walk to Moreton and Fyfield, with carol singing along the way outside three churches. At morning break, seasonal refreshments will be provided from the boot of Lizzie’s car. Lunch will be at Moreton after 8 miles, either at the Church or the White Hart (please bring your own picnic lunch). At the end of the walk there will be more festive refreshments and our Secret Santa present exchange.

Please bring your own mug & wrapped Secret Santa gift (to the value of £5). Festive wear is desirable, and there will be a prize for the best Festive Outfit. Head torches would also be helpful. Carol sheets will be available for you to print iin December.

Can you let Lizzie know beforehand if you will be coming on the walk as she and her elves need to know how many to cater for: 07939142016 or lizziee65@hotmail.com

TUESDAY 12th December, Walk and Xmas Lunch c12 miles. 9.30am, Rose and Crown car park, Chelmsford Road, Great Waltham, Chelmsford CM3 1AG. Leader: Peter Tremain

There are still a few places left for the Christmas lunch. If you would like to join us for lunch, add a deposit (£10 per person) a.s.a.p. by phone direct to the Rose & Crown on 01245 360359, to the 1.30pm walking group party lunch on Tuesday 12th December.

Once the deposit is paid please email peter.tremain@live.co.uk or text 07427 857003 your choices from the menu. Rose and Crown Christmas Menu

Can you also let Peter know if you will just be coming on the morning walk.

Annual General Meeting

Looking further ahead, the Essex and Herts LDWA Annual General Meeting will be held on SATURDAY 3^rd February. The venue will be the Women’s Institute Hall in Old Harlow, and it will be followed by an afternoon walk taking in some of Harlow’s many sculptures. Peter Aylmer (aka Trailman and author of a recent booklet ‘Harlow Sculpture Walks’) will be leading the walk.

Three of our Officers will be standing down at this meeting, so we will be seeking a new Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. All three posts are constitutionally required to be filled for our group to continue. In addition, there will be some vacancies for ‘ordinary’ committee members.

The E&H committee meets three or four times each year (and cake, coffee or occasionally beer are usually involved). Over the last couple of years we have also pioneered a ‘walk and talk’ meeting where we discuss all things walking. Notes from our recent meetings are here

If you are interested in joining the committee, any of the current members will be happy to have a chat about what is involved. There’s usually at least one of us out on social walks, or our contact details are here: Essex & Herts LDWA - Committee Members

Or why not come along as an observer to our next committee meeting, which will be on Thursday 7^th December.

Any committee nominations should be received by Saturday 6^th January 2024.

Challenge Walks

Essex and Herts and all our neighbouring LDWA groups have challenge walks coming up in the first few months of 2024:

Sunday 7th January - The Stansted Stagger

Saturday 11th February - The Winter Poppyline

Sunday 3rd March - The Hannington Hike

Sunday 17th March - The Sevenoaks Circular

Saturday 6th April - The Capital Challenge

Sunday 14th April - The Essex Walker

Foe Challenge Walks further afield, check out The Challenge Events page on the LDWA website.

That's all for this update - Happy Walking everyone!