Ramblers in Shropshire

The view  from Ramblers General Council 3-4 April 2009

Saturday 4th – Enjoy Your Coast! A fun afternoon spent in a workshop on Coastal Access which included an update on the campaign and how we can use new campaigning techniques, such as e-campaigning, to help achieve the campaign objectives. The Marine and Coastal Access Bill is currently being passed through parliament, however time is running out in the parliamentary calendar and so it is essential that strong public support can be demonstrated to government. People can do very simple, quick things such as emailing their MP to ask them to support access to the coast; and take part in the quick online ask telling the Ramblers why access to the coast is important (the website to take part can be found here). Loads of people have already taken part saying how much they love the coast. If you believe in the right to enjoy your coast then tell the Ramblers why!

The rest of the day was spent debating policy motions within the Ramblers. A new campaign is to be launched on helping local authorities to improve path networks. Rights of Way Improvement Plans are meant to be a guidance document for local authorities to improve the path network in their area. The Ramblers wants to work with Defra and local authorities to make sure the paper becomes a reality and people can enjoy using their local paths. Another motion discussed walking as the perfect form of exercise (it’s free, easy and no special equipment is needed) and that this should be promoted during the 2012 Olympics in London and 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The Ramblers is holding a Get Walking Day on 30 May 2009 to try to encourage people to walk more – find the details here:  http://www.ramblers.org.uk/campaigns/GWD.htm.

Eleanor Harris, an energetic and enthusiastic Met Walker (a 20-30′s London Ramblers group) won a massive amount of votes to get onto the Board of Trustees – brilliant news.

Sessions wrapped up with a thank you and goodbye speech to Kate Ashbrook, who stood down as Chair at the end of her tenure – however she was re-elected as a Trustee so will continue her passionate work on behalf of the Ramblers.

Saturday 4th early a.m. Mists all around the red buildings – quite eerie and beautiful. Sheep munching on grass, dew underfoot. Teeny bit of an ale hangover.

Friday 3rd late afternoon.

Arrived Friday afternoon in the wonderfully rural Shropshire. The overcast grey clouds had made way for gorgeous spring sunshine, and everywhere you look there are green fields filled with sheep and horses. Ramblers General Council is being held at Harper Adams University College, a lovely venue of red-brick buildings sat amongst colourful displays of pansies, daffodils and more sheep. This is  – I am told, by those more cultured than me – the countryside idolised in  Housman’s ‘A Shropshire Lad’ and you can see why. It’s glorious. 

After settling into rooms in the Halls of Residence (the smell is so evocative – immediately I felt like a student again) we all sat down to dinner and were entertained with several excellent speeches. Kate Ashbrook, Chairman of the Ramblers (her last General Council this year as Chair) gave a welcome speech, highlighting recent campaign successes, including the announcement last Tuesday of the South Downs as a National Park [cue whoops and cheers]. 

This was followed by other speeches, key highlights being a tribute to Jerry Pearlman, who has spent many, many years as the honorary solicitor for the Ramblers, leading us from one victory to another and helping to ensure people can continue to enjoy paths for many generations to come. The other highlight was a speech marking Eugene Suggett’s 21 years of service for the Ramblers. Eugene works at Central Office as the Senior Policy Officer and has also been involved in many successful legal cases. As well as being a snappy dresser and a font of all rights of way knowledge, he also likes his booze and so was delighted with a bottle of wine presented to him on behalf of the Ramblers.

Tom Franklin, CEO, gave a talk on the year that has passed, and the one to come. He spoke of the need for the Ramblers to adapt, and paraphrased Darwin’s theory of evolution – survival of species is due to their ability to change. He is also spoke of the brilliant work the Ramblers had done in the past and of the importance of our dedicated volunteers, but emphasised the need for the Ramblers to diversify their supporter base and embrace new ways of doing things.

After a lively session of candidate hustings for those wishing to obtain a place on the Ramblers Board of Trustees (with one candidate speaking of the need for “benign dictatorship”) we retired to the bar to mingle and partake in the local ale – very good stuff.