The newsletter provides information about upcoming Christmas social events for the Sleaford Ramblers group, including a carol service, Christmas walk and lunch, and ten pin bowling evening. It also discusses cancelling a previous social evening due to rising costs. Details are provided about future coach trips and a walking tour along the Tarka Trail. An annual general meeting recap is included, and the walks program for November through February is outlined.

1. Editor: Keith Thompson Dateline: Sleaford Wednesday 14 th November 2012
Happy Christmas: No doubt we are one of the the first again but there is only 34 shopping
days to Christmas and this is the last Newsletter before Christmas. Anyway the Committee
wanted to take the opportunity of wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Hope you can make it to some of the Christmas social events we have included in the Newsletter.
The social evening on Friday 14nd December, the Carol service is on Saturday 8 th December and
the last walk of the year and Christmas lunch is on 9 th December; something for everyone
perhaps.
The Social Evening at Heckington Village Hall shown in the programme as being on 14 th
December has unfortunately been cancelled. Costs are rising significantly and unfortunately
they are fixed costs rather than costs that changed with the numbers attending so the reduced
number of people attending would have to pay a disproportionate increase. We would also
have to find a new DJ and a new caterer as those used in previous years are no longer available

2. to us. As we go to press the committee have made a booking for a night of ten pin bowling at
Ancaster on 14th December. The booking form is attached to this Newsletter. Come and join us for a
bit of Christmas fun!
Coach Trip to Harrogate on Sunday 2nd
FOLLOW THE TARKA TRAIL ON FOOT
September 2012
Those of us who travelled on this trip thoroughly 9 day/10 night walking tour
enjoyed it and Clive did not let us down with an
excellent walk in a beautiful part of the country
Tarka 2 will be happening on 25th September
2013. The second part of this walking tour takes a further 8
where he lives. We will do well to match this trip days/9 nights completing the south loop tracing the travels of
in the future but in spite of this and the low cost Henry Williamson's much loved “Tarka the Otter”. Again you
can choose to do just the morning or afternoon walk or do
of the trip is was very poorly supported by the your own thing sight seeing and well behaved dogs are
welcome as long as their owner brings a collapsing cage to
members. The committee is at the moment
keep them in when they are left unattended in the hotel.
considering the future of coach trips, whether we
can afford to run them in the future and indeed As before we will be staying at the 4 star Durrant House Hotel
on the outskirts of Bideford with outstanding views over the
whether members want us to run them in the Torridge estuary. All rooms have en-suite Italian marble
future. About 25 of our own members regularly bathrooms, tea and coffee making facilities, clock radio, hair-
dryer, TV, thick white fluffy towels, in-house laundry facilities
travel on the coach trips and of these 7 are and room service menus.
committee related. So perhaps the other 60 DAY 2 – Eggesford Station for a great trip along the River Taw,
members can perhaps help us and tell us why they then to the B3220 at Tawbridge for lunch and finally to North
Tawton, a town once famous for wool, with a fine church and
do not support coach trips so that we can, if clock tower
possible, incorporate any changes to our DAY 3 - North Tawton, along the River Taw crossing the
programme to gain more support. For example it Dartmoor Railway steam railway. into the Dartmoor National
Park at Sticklepath, passing the National Trust Property of
has been suggested that the second coach trip of Finch Foundry and on through Belstone to stop for a late
the year in early September should be moved lunch.
because at the moment it coincides with the last DAY 4 - Oaehampton, the “gateway to Dartmoor” with fine
week of the school holidays when Grandma and old pubs, a steam railway and a fine park. Through the
hamlet of Jacobstowe for lunch and on to finish at Hatherleigh
Granddad take the last opportunity to spend some
DAY 5 – Hatherleigh to the Balaclava Monument, on past the
time with their Grand Children. Perhaps I ought village of Iddesleigh for lunch at Dolton then to Petrockstowe
to say also that we would of course welcome where we will be picked up.
Grandma and Granddad with the Grand Children DAY 6 - Day off or possibly Lundy Island (extra cost)
on the coach trips! Anyway please let us know if
DAY 7 – Petrockstowe along the former railway, past the
there is something we can change or do with the Puffing Billy Inn, that used to be Torrington Station. Then,
coach trips to make them more attractive to the following the course of the River Torridge we'll end up in the
town of Bideford.
members.
DAY 8 –Bideford Station, we'll go past the River Torridge, to
Ron Bramley had been our Vice Chairman and
Instow where there is a nice beach and on to the South West
his wife Di had been the Minute Secretary until Coast path with fine views of the estuary Fremington quay for
a late lunch before finishing at Barnstaple.
2010 when they retired from the committee but
both still play an very active part in the Group. The price will be £430 per person for 9 days, assuming two
Many of you will have now heard that Ron has at sharing. There will be a single supplement.
Please obtain a booking form or more details please
last had the much delayed operation to remedy contact Alex Russell on azze32@hotmail.com or
some of the problems left by the original 07903054604
operation. He is now back home and we
understand the pain he was suffering in his back has eased. The road to recovery after an operation
like this is never straight forward and this week we understand he was not so well but is being closely
monitored. TLC is now the order of the day as he still has a long way to go but hopefully one day
soon we shall see him walking with us again

3. The Antrim Coast and the Giant's Causeway . A joint effort with Boston. In the May
edition of the Newsletter we asked members to let us know if they were interested in a holiday to
Northern Ireland in 2014. Only four members of Sleaford Group notified us that they were definitely
interested in this holiday and a further half a dozen members said they could be interested. Not
what you would call overwhelming enthusiasm for the trip from a potential of 90 members.
Annual General Meeting on 28th October 2012
About 25 people set off for an enjoyable walk around Digby led by Dave and Joan and all but two of
them sat down for a buffet lunch provided by the Red Lion. All the existing committee were re-
elected for the coming year and they have been joined by David Mellor who has therefore had to
give up his role as honorary auditor. Questions concerning coach trips for next year and social
functions at Christmas were raised from the floor. The Treasurer and the Chair said that there were
problems with cost because of the lack of support and the high fixed and increasing costs for these
events. Reduced numbers resulted in the fixed costs having to be spread over fewer people which
in turned resulted in disproportionally higher costs per person. Alternatives were therefore being
looked at. One idea the committee was looking at for the coach trips, was for us to join a coach trip
being run by a coach company, perhaps even at our suggestion, and guaranteeing the sale say of 25
seats. An alternative to the Christmas function at Heckington was an outing to a ten pin bowling
alley or a theatre.
The day was rounded off with an interesting talk and slide show by Dr Simon Pawley about the early
founding of Sleaford and why places are where they are now. Apparently the only reason for
Sleaford to exist was the wealth derived from the various, and up to 18, water mills eastwards along
the Slea; but their value only lasted for 150 years.
Walks
The descriptions of the walks, if any, below are those given to us just before the Newsletter was published by the walk leaders and so
are the most up to date details available to us. At the time of publication, errors and omissions excepted, the details contained in the
Ramblers' Lincolnshire Area Walk Lincolnshire Programme are the most comprehensive details of the walk programme for the current
year but the programme is prepared at the end of August in the previous year and things change for various reasons so please do not
rely on this publication and check for any changes in this Newsletter, on Radio Lincolnshire on the morning of the walk and at
http://www.lincolnshireramblers.org.uk/group-walks/sleaford.html or http://www.sleafordramblers.co.uk/2012-walk-programme.php
11th Nov 2012 – Old Somerby - Pam is the walk leader. 10 am start
A 5.5 mile walk from the car park following the footpaths and tracks around Old Somerby.
25th November 2012 – Heighington – Richard was the walk leader but it is now
Harold. 10 am start
and not 27th as included in Lincolnshire Ramblers Group Walks Programme
Starting point: The Butcher and Beast Pub on the High Street. Parking: in the High Street and in the
Village Hall car park, High Street. Leave Heighington SE down Potterhanworth Road. Take footpath
right crossing the railway, Pudding Busk Lane and Branston Lane. After a diversion towards
Dyehouse Farm and Branston return along Heighington Beck via Cliff Farm and Sheepwash Lane to
the starting point. Lunch at Heighington then East to Newcot Lane, Brinkle Spring Lane and back via
Low Park Lane. Footpaths across fields, country lanes and roads. 7 miles.

4. 9th December 2012 – Ruskington – Pam is the walk leader. 10 am start
We will meet as usual at 10am at the pub and have a short walk of about 5 miles before we sit down
to lunch at 1.00pm. You need to choose your starter and desert and main course and show it on the
booking form. The price of the meal is £10.95 per head for the 3 courses and tea or coffee.
23rd December - North Rauceby – Pam is the walk leader. 10 am start
The last walk of the year! Meet at the church for a “figure of 8” walk which means that we shall
arrive back at the church for lunch time before setting off again on the second half of the walk. The
walk is about 9 miles but anyone who wants to finish at lunch time can make a 4.5 mile walk of it.
6th January 2013 – Honnington – Mike is the walk leader. 10 am start
The walk starts at the lay by on the A607 at Honington at Grid ref SK 941 434.
Starting from the lay by we head up toward Barkston Heath and West Willoughby vie Heath lane.
Crossing the Railway line and Sudbrook Moor, we make our to Carlton Scroop and then from
there we walk down Howdale lane, before returning vie Deepdale plantation. crossing the A607
we make our back to Honington and the lay by. About 9.5 miles.
20th January 2013 - Wellingore – Russell is the walk leader. 10 am start
3rd February 2013 – Creeton – Richard is the walk leader. 10 am start
17th February 2013 – Frampton Marsh – Dave Richardson is the walk leader. 10
am start.
Registered Assistance dogs only on this walk please. Starting from the car park at the Frampton
Marsh RSPB visitor centre (any donations would be most welcome please) the walk will take in sea
banks, salt marsh, bird reserves and farmland, heading south towards Kirton Marsh and the river
Welland, with views out into the Wash. Venturing out to the Haven Mouth is possible but it
depends on the weather and the tide. Do bring binoculars if you're into bird watching, and wrap up
against the wind. The only strenuous bits will be up and down the sides of the sea bank and a few
steps. Approximately 8 miles,
Part of the Ramblers' Association: Email address: sleafordramblers@gmail.com
web site: sleafordramblers.co.uk
A Company limited by guarantee Telephone Number: 01529 300104
Fax: 0870 7060224
Registration number 4458492 Address: 15 Clay Hill Road, Sleaford NG34 7TF
Charity Registration number 1093577 Walk-day Mobile: 07504 074925

5. Ramblers Traditional Carol Service
On
Saturday 8th December 2012
At
Temple Bruer Church
starting at
19.00 hours or 7 pm
This is a traditional Carol Service for the Ramblers and Tea or Coffee and mince pies are
served afterwards Mince pies and help with the washing up would be appreciated.
Everyone is welcome

6. BOOKING FORM
Christmas walk and Lunch to be held on:
Sunday 9th December 2012 at 13.00 hours or 1.00pm in old money
at:
The Red Lion, 107 High Street, Ruskington, Lincolnshire, NG34 9DZ
£10.95 per person
Please book me................places for which I enclose herewith cheque to the value of
£......................... (£10.95 x number of places booked)
Name:........................................................................... email address:...................................................
Telephone Number: …................................................................................................
Cheque payable to Sleaford & District Ramblers Group, should be sent to Julia Pepper, 1 The Row,
Swaton, Sleaford, Lincs, NG34 0JJ to arrive not later than Saturday 24 th November 2012.
Please choose from the menu below one course from each of the starters, main dishes and deserts
send your menu choice with your booking:
Lunch Menu
Starters
Vegetable Soup
Prawn Cocktail
Melon
Main Courses
Hand Carved Turkey Breast Served with Sage & Onion Stuffing and sausage
wrapped with bacon
Tender Slices of Roast Beef with a Home made Yorkshire Pudding and Rich Meaty
Gravy
Steak & Ale Pie
Deserts
Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce
Lemon Marangue
Selection of Ice Cream
Tea or Coffee

7. BOOKING FORM
come and join Sleaford Ramblers for their Christmas Social
at
Ancaster Bowling, Woodlodge, Ancaster, NG32 3PY
for
2 games of TENPIN BOWLING and a BUFFET for £12 per person
or
Anyone not wishing to Bowl may have a Buffet for £4 per person
7:30 until 10pm. On 14th December 2012
Fully Licensed Bar
Please book me................places for the bowling and the buffet and/or …...................places for buffet
only which I enclose herewith cheque to the value of £......................... (£12.00 x number of places
booked) and/or (£4.00 x number of buffet places booked)
Name:........................................................................... email address:...................................................
Telephone Number: …................................................................................................
Cheque payable to Sleaford & District Ramblers Group, should be sent to Julia Pepper, 1
The Row, Swaton, Sleaford, Lincs, NG34 0JJ to arrive not later than Saturday 1st December
2012.