https://ldwa.org.uk/lgt/downloads/London/EBB10.jpgNOTICES 

1) Welcome to the special edition of the Blather where we focus on the recent EBB 100.  The event took place over the Bank Holiday weekend 27th-29th May 2023.  The route combined urban and rural walking: following an anticlockwise direction from Moseley, the first section is along the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, then the River Rea, before heading out of the city to Frankley.  No massive assents and decents, but participants traversed the Waseley and Lickey Hills before descending to Alvechurch. Entrants passed through the countryside of north Worcestershire, then crossed into Warwickshire, reaching the ancient Forest of Arden with the towns of Tanworth and Henley. Rejoining the Stratford Canal, then following the River Alne, takes them into Shakespeare country: first Wilmcote, the childhood home of the playwright’s mother Mary Arden, then Stratford itself with its numerous sites associated with his life.  

Entrants then headed north from Stratford across the Welcombe Hills, in what for most was the first night stretch. The following section was through farmland to Warwick, passing the castle and other historic sites in the town. The next castle is at Kenilworth – the second medieval stronghold in the county, which was held by the opposite side to Warwick in most of the major wars of the era – and was followed by the breakfast stop. On the second day entrants passed through nature reserves and the city’s showpiece War Memorial Park to reach the centre of Coventry, with a history stretching from the Middle Ages to the Blitz and subsequent reconstruction. A further chain of parks took them out of the city to the northwest, then across fields to Meriden, traditionally held to mark the centre of England.

Slower entrants were heading into the second night as they continue from Meriden to Berkswell and Barston, then join the Grand Union Canal. The towpath took them back into Birmingham, before a final section along the River Cole and Chinn Brook completes the return to HQ

2) London LDWA was well represented with 13 members successfully completing the event.  A further 5 members did not finish for various reasons. One was due to failing a kit check where the member had inadvertently left their waterproof trousers behind and was therefore disqualified.  I include this so others don't all foul of this in the future. 

I think that everyone who took part in the event, deserve to be nominated for being stars of the week - you know who you are.   An honourable mention for the following:  John Shortt, who is leading tomorrow's walk,Jeff Golland (ex Secretary), Ena Levison who did her first social walk in January and moved quickly to complete a 100 6 months later.  Ken Fancett (our first member home), Melissa Butcher, Sally Adams all successfully completed it too.    I must not forget Gavin our Chair who completed his first 100 and Associate members Ian Fairweather and Stephen Wills  (first 100). Congratulations to you all. 

3)  Report on EBB100 London Volunteers weekend from Susanne Waldschmidt  

2023 Volunteers 

BAGGAGE TEAM:  Chris Blackwell, Paul Lawrence, Dave Williams, Colin Saunders and Norman Corrin (Bed, Bucks and Hamps)

FOOD SERVICE TEAM: Susanne Waldschmidt, Paul Tilley, John Sparshatt (Yorkshire), John Pestle, Gail Elrick, John Elrick, Ken Main, Nicholas Cole and John Esslemont

Stars of the Week all!!! 

As usual the weekend started on a high with a gourmet meal at Wetherspoons. This year it was The White Swan in Solihull.

On Saturday after watching the walkers set off on their 100 mile circular, we enjoyed a relaxing 16 mile circular walk on the Stratford Upon Avon Canal and along the Worcestershire Way. Expectations were not very high and most of us had never walked in the Midlands before. In fact the walk was both beautiful and interesting. The weather was pleasant and sunny and Spring was definitely in the air.

On Sunday most of us started our duties. Having the Head Quarters for the 100 in a Rugby Stadium rather than a school was certainly challenging for everyone most especially the baggage handlers.
Our legendary baggage handlers had already started work carting heavy bags of luggage up and down the Grandstand of a Rugby Stadium. As one of them said

‘I'm more than convinced that some of the ' 100 ' entrants must have packed everything, including the kitchen sink in their bag, such was the weight of some of them. It certainly presented a bit if a challenge lugging them up & down the grandstand but we really enjoyed every minute of it !’

The rest of us busied ourselves checking there was enough loo paper for at least 500 (this absolutely must not run out), putting up notices to guide people to the right toilet, bathroom, sleeping area. My heart sank when I saw this was at the top of the Grandstand.
100 miles and then the steep climb up to the top of the stairs! The dining area in the Rugby Club bar was much smaller than we were used to and we spent some time trying to get it set up. All this was not helped by the appearance of the Rugby Club members who were expecting their usual Saturday Night drinking session. Luckily the arrival of the first of the ‘great unwashed’ must have put them off and they soon went.

From late Sunday afternoon the majority of the walkers started to roll in. This 100 had been relatively easy and the weather had been perfect. The ground had completely dried out and best of all there was not a speck of mud on the floor of the clubhouse. Some walkers though were leaning over and clearly on their last legs. Would they ever make it to the top of the Grandstand!

It was great watching our London 100 heroes arrive at the finish. Well done Ken, Sally, Gavin, Geoff, Ian and all the others. 

4) Forthcoming Hundreds. The 2024 Speyside 100 will be up in Aviemore.  Because of the distance, London LDWA will not be managing a checkpoint but members can volunteer directly the organizers of the Speyside 100.  n.scot.ldwa@gmail.com     The 2025 event is much closer in in Norfolk/Suffolk.