Congratulations and Celebrations!

Hi everyone,

Let me start by congratulating Sue Farrant and John Sreeves, who (separately) completed the 500-mile Camino Frances (French Way) long distance 'pilgrimage' earlier this year, from St. Jean-Pied-De-Port in France, traversing the Pyrenees and continuing through the La Rioja wine region and along the rolling hills of northern Spain, before finishing in Santiago de Compostela. John continued a further 70 miles to Finisterre and Muxia, all in 31 days!. A fantastic achievement. Well done to you both! In case you're thinking of walking it, John claims that most LDWA challenge events are harder! I'll get  a second opinion from Sue if you don't mind John!

Congratulations to Clare Staff and her partner, Tim, who got married a short while ago. According to Clare, 'a planned quick gallop to the Register Office, turned into 35 family and friends and a bun fight in the garden. Great fun!'. Luckily they had 5 of the group's checkpoint tables which 'scrubbed up well and looked lovely decorated. It was a lovely day, blessed with sunshine and gallons of Prosecco!' On a sad note, her dog Reg passed away last month just a week after his 13th birthday. He thoroughly enjoyed his time walking with the group and even took part in a groups' trip away to Cornwall as well as some challenge events!

Annual General Meeting, Xmas Meal and Walk

A reminder that our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled to take place on Sunday 3rd December 2023.

The committee is holding the AGM at the Bear Hotel in Devizes. Please click HERE to view their festive menu. As usual, the meal will be subsidised. You will each pay only £10. Please make your selection and pay by the end of October.

The £10 per head charge is based on us fixing the numbers for the lunch with the hotel before 1st November, to obtain the discount offered. For members giving us menu choices and payment after 31st October, we will be obliged to increase the charge to £15 per head, to offset the resulting increase from the hotel for late notification. The £10 rate only applies to responses before that date.

To book your place at the meal, and make your food selection, please go to https://andy8127.wixsite.com/ldwawilts/online-store/Christmas-Meal-and-AGM-2023-p590990741

As per the 3-year rule in the group's constitution, two positions on the committee require filling, i.e. Treasurer and Walks Secretary. Both the Chair and Secretary have agreed to continue in post. Dave Purdy and Lucy Robins have already volunteered to fill the vacant roles, however nominations are still invited for them, as well as for 'general' committee members. Motions are also invited from members for discussion at the AGM. Nominations and motions must be received by the group's Secretary by Sunday 19th November 2023.

Details of the walk will appear on our web page in due course. Thank you to everyone who volunteered to lead it.

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 Chippenham.

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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
wiltshire.secretary@ldwa.org.uk