Ryedale RA Group
The group has continued to flourish and grow steadily, with membership increasing from 193 to 208. On welcoming our 200th member in February 2008, we decided to mark the occasion. Neil Armstrong of the Ryedale Rambler shop in Pickering kindly offered to donate goods to the value of £50.00, and present them to our 200th member. We were very pleased to obtain publicity about this, when an article submitted to the Gazette and Herald, our local paper, was published in full. A number of new members who have joined us this year are supporting the group regularly on walks and as new walk leaders. In the summer, we were also pleased to welcome walkers on holiday in the area, some of whom have walked with us in previous years. We have put on a full programme of walks, with walks every Sunday plus shorter ones twice a month. Our shorter, full day walks have encouraged some new members who perhaps need a slightly slower pace to begin with.

After our last AGM, two long standing committee members stood down, but we were fortunate to recruit another two equally enthusiastic members. At our next AGM, our committee will again see some changes, but due to some energetic recruitment, we will be welcoming three new members. The group is indebted to all its committee members, past and present, who have so willingly given their time and energy to support us by their service on the committee.

The area committee was approached by the London Blind Rambling Club with a request to host a walking holiday for them in September 2009. The Ryedale group has volunteered to coordinate this activity, and is currently asking for help from other groups.

Membership of the Ryedale group is drawn from a very wide area, and a substantial number of our members live many miles outside of Ryedale but choose to be affiliated to this group. This can make communication between us rather more difficult than other groups. To try to overcome this, we are now offering an additional form of communication by email to anyone who wishes to subscribe to this. Take-up is gradually increasing, particularly amongst new members.  Also associated with our widespread membership, organisation and support of our social activities can also be more challenging than other groups encounter, with the additional factor that ours is not even focussed on a particular town. Despite this, we have still managed to have a full and thriving social programme.

We held a very successful barn dance and faith supper in October 2007 at Kirkbymoorside Memorial Hall, when 57 members from our own and other groups enjoyed dancing to the White Cross Ceilidh Band. We also organised a raffle in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, after their help in the accident involving our member Tom Jackson and his friend, and raised £200.  In December 2007, after a short walk, we held our annual carol service at the United Reform Church, Pickering, followed by coffee and mince pies. Numbers for this have been declining steadily over recent years, with only 18 ramblers attending the last one, so a different event is planned for this year.
Following a short walk, our New Year’s lunch in January 2008 at the Forest and Vale Hotel, Pickering again proved extremely popular, with 68 ramblers attending, including many from other groups.
In May 2008, we held an Irish folk music evening at Thornton-le-Dale village hall, with a local band called the Randy Monks. This was a new venture for us, and judging by the robust singing from the audience, was an evening enjoyed by all. It brought the added satisfaction that the band donated their entire fee to Macmillan Cancer support.

Our annual coach ramble in June 2008 was to the Pendle Hill area, and a choice of three walks of varying lengths was offered, followed by a meal. It was well supported by 42 members from ours and other groups, and despite rain and poor visibility at lunch time, was an enjoyable day.
It has been gratifying to see that all our walks and social events attracted many members from other groups. The strength of this area is that all groups work together, walk together and play together.
 

Wendy Borman, Group Secretary            Return to eastyorkshireramblers.org.ok