Ramblers
54 years later, we enjoyed a happy reunion with friends old and new
Hexham Ramblers celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Ramblers Association with members past and present.
Margaret Thorburn, past group member describes the event: "For me and many others, no longer actively walking with Hexham Ramblers, it was a time for meeting up with friends we had not seen for many years. The evening started with a Buffet Supper, followed by Jim Anderson’s rendition of his ‘true-to-life’ poems. We then had a slide show spanning the years of the club. We saw lots of faces not with us any more."
Nora Wallace recalls how the group was formed when Mr Joe Rosenberg, Chairman of the Northern Area of the Ramblers’ Association attended an inaugural meeting in Hexham: "Joe was the ideal ambassador – full of enthusiasm and always smiling. He was of stocky build with muscular legs (usually clad in shorts) which as we later learned never seemed to tire. He was the right man to inspire us to get out there whatever the weather and keep walking!
"My resolution never again to ramble in Kielder Forest stems from a never-to-be-forgotten trek of 20 miles (admittedly we were lost at one stage) over, or into, peaty water filled ditches among the newly planted conifers!
The most exciting joint ramble remembered began by early train to Newcastle to catch the Edinburgh connection alighting at Beal station, which has long since closed. We then walked over the causeway to Holy Island. In perfect weather, we circled the island before returning, as the day drew to a close, to a dark station platform manned by a solitary porter with a lamp. Thankfully we climbed weary and somewhat dishevelled into brightly lit coaches, to the surprise of passengers who had nodded off in the muggy atmosphere. Monday morning work seemed all too close by the time we reached Hexham.
"Numbers attending walks grew steadily so that in September 1958 we boasted 22, no doubt influenced by the attraction of a summer barbecue. A winter programme of monthly social activities also proved popular. 54 years later, we particularly enjoyed a happy reunion at Wall with friends old and new."
Roger Milton recalls days past: "A footpath which led to Dilston Castle which we used in 1956 no longer exists. It led from the, then, A69 at the farm at Dilston and those farm buildings and yard are now the site of a private housing development. We played a part in saving footpaths for the public, by putting them forward for inclusion on the footpath maps, but one failure was our unsuccessful attempt to convince a Public Enquiry at Wall Village Hall that there was a public right of way down the river bank from the bridge at Chollerford to the Meeting of the Waters on the Acomb side of the river.
"Three things spring to mind: (i)a Newcastle Ramblers trip across the border, signing a register at an Eyemouth pub to show that we were bona fide travellers and thus could legally have a drink it being a Sunday; (ii) having a flask of chicken soup on a walk with pieces of chicken in it, that is, food and drink in one, so less to carry and learning to cross fences of barbed wire safely by putting your anorak over the top strand!; (iii) the friendships made on walks and in particular the acquisition of a deep knowledge of the Hexham countryside which was invaluable in my professional life.
Following our Saturday evening meal and slideshow 25 people met in Allendale on Sunday morning to explore the hay meadows with Neil Diment. Neil is the North Pennines AONB Hay Time Community Officer and takes a major role in promoting the Hay Time project which aims to restore and enhance upland hay meadows. Neil explained the importance of creating sites which are habitat-rich and where it is hoped some lost species will return e.g. twite, grey partridge and brown hare. The meadows are surveyed and the best are used to collect seed for future sowing. 26 are currently being monitored to record the impact of seed harvesting and spreading. The inter-dependence of plants, insects and birds became very apparent and many were in evidence, nicely freshened by the afternoon's light rain .
