In early December some members of ESW boarded a coach in Oxted with the aim of picking up fellow members waiting at Warlingham, Caterham and Godstone heading for a four night holiday on Hayling Island, or so I thought ! The coach driver had other ideas and took us on a tour of NE Surrey and approached Warlingham via junction 8 on the M25 ! We eventually managed to pick up the rest of the frozen party and headed successfully to the Langstone Quay Hotel on Hayling Island. The hotel had excellent facilities including the warmest swimming pool I have ever been in plus a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. This was very relaxing after a day’s walking. 

Brian Smith had done an excellent job planning beautiful walks in the Chichester Harbour and Arundel area and providing us with maps and details of all the walks . He even gave us maps of Portsmouth and how to get there for a day’s shopping for those who didn’t feel up to three days of walking . Excitement was provided each day by the kitchen’s supply of individually ordered lunch bags. Would what you found in your bag be anything like what you had ordered? No! Was there something wrong with our eyesight that we couldn’t see the salad in the chicken and salad sandwich? No, there wasn’t any! Never mind, they would probably get it right  tomorrow. No ! The next day they used the previous day’s lists again. However, that was their only error; they provided us with excellent food every evening.

The area around Chichester Harbour is beautiful not only for walking but provides excellent opportunities for bird watching and some members of the group took a day off from walking to see the wild life . On the first day we walked round the harbour from the pretty village of Bosham. On the second we walked from either West Wittering for the longer walk group or from West Itchenor for the shorter walking group round the harbour and alongside the canal to Chichester. The lucky early arrivals had time to explore the cathedral and the town. The excitement of the day was provided by Barbara Bullman, ever glad to seek the limelight ! Half way through the walk her back went into spasm and a taxi had to take her to hospital in Chichester. Glad to say she was back with us by suppertime and appeared to be recovering well. The third and last walk was through the beautiful parkland and countryside round Arundel. Further excitement was provided by Pamela trying to fit her large feet into someone else’s boots three sizes too small for her! Luckily that was sorted out and everyone was able to enjoy a lovely walk.

A wonderful bonus of the holiday was provided by the beautiful weather. Every day gave us full sunshine to enhance the lovely scenery everywhere and the sunsets over the harbour were spectacular. I wasn’t up to witness the sunrises but I’m told they were good too !  We made our own entertainment in the evening. Those of us who weren’t propping up the bar were treated to two evenings of what were billed as easy Christmas quizzes but which showed some of us that we weren’t as clever as we thought ! A gentleman from the RNLI gave us an interesting talk about the organisation and also a history of Hayling Island and how it has changed over the years. The last evening saw everyone bopping away to DJ Brian Smith’s music – selected mainly from his younger days !

A wonderful, entertaining few days were enjoyed by all thanks to Helen Whiteley who arranged it all. Thank you Helen for all your hard work . An excellent location and hotel, beautiful walks and good company, what else could one ask for ? We are lucky that someone is willing to take on the onerous and thankless task of organising a holiday for the ESW. What’s more, does the girl never give up, she’s agreed to do it all again next year. I for one cannot wait ! Thank you again Helen.

Thanks to Judy Smythson for the write up and Brian Smith for the photos.

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