Happy New Year!
With the festive season just about over it is time to look back on another successful year for the club, and look forward to what lies in wait for us in 2008.
Review of 2007
2007 saw trips and walks both near and far, as well as other events which all meant for quite a packed program. Old favourites such as the Blacks, the Brecons, and the Cotswolds were covered, but we also visited some places that the club had not tried before. Of note was Les Meer’s very successful trip to Majorca in March; the company was great, the location was great, the hotel was great, and provided everyone with the most free food ever available on a trip. Some new activities were tried (gorge walking / swimming in hiking boots and under-pants being very memorable!). There was also an excellent trip to Kilochewe in Scotland organised by Ian Carr in June, where many Munros were bagged, and Janet kept up her good influence on the weather in Scotland by, as in previous years, providing us with a glorious weeks weather. There was another trip to Spain in October, our annual camping trip to Pembrokeshire in July and a very hot August Bank Holiday camping weekend in Exmoor.
Many social events also took place, including two very successful talks that we hosted for the BMC. On both occasions the venues were full and the speakers commented on how welcome they had felt. Thanks to all those who assisted in the success of these talks. We also had a couple of slide show evenings, one being after the AGM. The annual canoeing weekend went well and the year was finished off with 10-pin bowling and the Christmas Breakfast walk.
The summer evening walks were again very well attended, and as always provided an excellent way to wide down on a Tuesday evening. Rob Soutar will be organising the calendar for these again this year, and will issue this in a few months time. Any early volunteers will be welcome to Rob.
One other event that I feel should be mentioned, was the wedding of Becks and Steve Walder in April, which for many was also a highlight.
So thanks to all who made 2007 such a success, whether this was hosting slide shows, contributing photos, making food and drink (please thank all the wives!), leading walks, organising trips and anything else that people have done. We may not have recruited many new members in the last year, but luckily the members that are here continue to make the club the success that it is.
HMC Committee for 2008
Now, on to 2008. The committee was elected at the AGM that was held in November:
Chairman: Andy Leach
Secretary: Reece Bowes
Treasurer: Janet Shortland
Meets Secretary: Louise Lenz
Evening Walks Secretary: Rob Soutar
Social Secretary: Brian Jones
Publicity Secretary: Rebecca Walder (Becks)
Please feel free to contact any of the committee members with any queries or questions as you feel appropriate (we are a friendly bunch really). New members should be given the Secretary’s details to contact. The club also has a general email address which is thehmc@hotmail.co.uk and the website which is maintained by Becs. Here you can find electronic copies of the events list, as well as news and photographs. Any contributions to Becs please.
2008 meets list
A draft version of the events calendar for 2008 has been circulated. As you can see a lot of events have already been decided, but there are quite a few gaps and things to be confirmed. The events for January and February are confirmed but if anybody would like to organise something, can they please contact Louise. Please feel free to add new dates to the list, as it is totally flexible. As this is only a draft at present, please bear in mind that dates and activities may change. A final version will be sent out as soon as it is available.
As you can see from the list, the full range of activities and locations are covered. We have weekends away to Dinas Mawdwy, a possible Skiing weekend, a weekend in the Lake District, and the Gower to name but a few. We also have week long trips to Scotland and a possible overseas trip to Morocco. Please contact the relevant person as shown on the list about any of the trips. Thanks to all those that have agreed to organise trips and lead walks so far. There is certainly a wide selection and there should be something to suit all tastes and abilities.
Club subscriptions
Club subscriptions have remained the same for this year at £12 for adults and £10 for children. Those that have not paid yet, can they do so ASAP. All money to Janet please. The BMC would like a new list of members from us soon, so that people can be registered for third-party insurance, which is one of the services that they offer to the club as we are BMC affiliated.
As well as the meets list, I have included the latest contact list for club members. Please let me know if any of your details are wrong, and I will adjust them. Would those that send out emails to other club members, please make sure that they are using the correct addresses and not missing anyone out.
So all that is left to say is that the committee hopes everyone has a good 2008, and we hope to see as many of you out and about with the club as possible.
Regards
Reece and the Committee |
