This next bit is a bit of a begging letter…. I’m into my last 3 months as your chairman & so far, no-one has volunteered to take over from me at the AGM. Similarly, we have had no volunteers for the role of treasurer, someone to organise the tea for the AGM & the cream tea etc. for next year as Sue Halsey has also done her 3 years & so is stepping down. Helen W is not going to be organising any holidays after this year, so again, unless someone(s) steps forward to offer their services, there will be no more ESW holidays. We also need more Walk Leaders. We operate a buddy scheme, so you’re not just let loose on your own with no help!

Please do consider taking on one of these roles. Your club needs you! Without volunteers to do these things (& of course to lead walks), there would be no ESW! Please talk to one of the committee members (contact details on the website) or any walk leader to find out more.

On a lighter note…. We have the summer buffet coming up in just 10 days time & I gather it’s now fully booked, which is very good to know. We are planning to have a raffle at the buffet, with all proceeds going to the kissing gate fund. For those of you who don’t know (& a reminder to those who do), ESW has money set aside for purchasing kissing gates to replace stiles/broken gates. Kissing gates have gone up in price, as have so many other things, & so our current funds will not buy as many gates as before. Our plan is to try to raise some money with this raffle to boost the funds. Profits from events such as the cream tea/buffet go to the kissing gate fund too, so your attendance really helps.

Barbara & Ken’s Krew have previously purchased some gates, which are being held in stock with Surrey CC, awaiting fitment & are planning to fit several along a single path, which then takes all the stiles out on that path. The plan going forward, is to do that where possible, rather than putting in a gate here & a gate there (unless there are broken stiles/gates that need dealing with).

So, for those of you going to the raffle, bring some cash – the tickets are going to be £1 each/£5 a strip. We’re busy sorting out prizes currently, keep an eye out for further details.

Those not attending the buffet could of course give a friend £5 to buy some tickets on their behalf…

That’s it from me for now. Please do consider volunteering for chairman/treasurer/cream tea organiser/holiday planner/walk leader…..

Kind regards

Deb Skinner   Chairman East Surrey Walkers