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    Issue 5   December 2007

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Merry Christmas and a Happy

New Year to All Our Readers

news in brief…..news in brief…..

Following the recent death of our President, Joyce Williams, we have asked the former Brecon & Radnor MP, Lord Livsey to accept the Presidency of the Group; despite heavy commitments in the House of Lords and with other local organisations we are pleased he has offered to accept the Presidency for a two year period……….

We have been involved in further discussions with town and county councillors and county highways officers on Brecon town centre issues: our view is that traffic and pedestrians do not mix – ingrained habits of parking wherever one fancies and driving too fast has made Brecon a much more dangerous place: the only sensible solution is for all non-passenger traffic to be excluded for set periods during the day……….

Still on the subject of the safety and convenience of pedestrians in Powys we are looking forward to publicity being given to the County Council’s recently adopted policy requiring a clear 1.5metres of pavement without obstruction: once this information is made available to shops and

businesses the Council will be able to remove articles that endanger all pedestrians………..

Finally, the 2008 dates of our monthly meetings at the Subud Hall in Brecon are as follows:-

MAIN MEETINGS:

Fourth Wednesday in every month at 11 am at the Subud Centre, The Watton, Brecon. 23 Jan - 27 Feb - 26 Mar - 23 Apr (AGM) - 28 May - 25 Jun - 23 Jul - 24 Sep - 22 Oct & 26 Nov.

SUB GROUPS:

BRECON – the 2^nd Wednesday in every month, Brecon Leisure Centre at 11am – NEXT MEETINGS: 12 Dec & 9 Jan.

HAY-ON-WYE – next meeting:  Friday 25 Jan at the Parish Hall in Lion Street at 11am.

First Outing with the Disabled Ramblers.

On 7th of June I was flying down the M4 and the M5 in my little Kangoo quite excited that I felt well enough to be on my way to Okehampton to meet new friends after looking forward to it for a few weeks. The new friends were members of the Disabled Ramblers which I had joined at the end of the previous year, but who I had never met.

I had booked my self in at a B and B in Station Road in Okehampton [as we were meeting at the station next morning it turned out to be a good move]. The B and B was excellent and after a big breakfast I made for the Station. One or two people had arrived, after introducing myself it turned out they were new as well. After half an hour most people had arrived and it was introductions all round. After Dr Mike Bruton, our Chairman, had said a few words, we were off.

Our route leading out of the car park was an old railway line which had been converted into a cycle track: a good surface to start our weekend. We ran into one little snag, a gate that was hardly wide enough for the Trampers to get through. I took a photo of this, to show the Wardens at BBNP. The Head Forester in our area says that he will use it, to try and get his superiors to alter all gates in our area that are too small.

The cycle track ran through some beautiful countryside and lunch time found us at a pub (where else would we be) we stopped for an hour and then made our way back to base.

Day Two Again, after a large breakfast, I was off to meet my friends of yesterday at Okehamton Army Camp (where some of the group had done some of their National Service). After some chat we were off on some of the old military roads that crisscross Dartmoor.  It was another lovely day and I covered up as I had burnt the previous day.

We had to cross two fords. At the first ford there was a lady who had one of the smaller scooters which could not go through the water, so a dashing young man with a “Gambo” (Welsh for trailer) on the back of his Tramper comes to her rescue, the scooter was loaded on to the gambo and away he went through the ford.

Then we came to ford number two which was longer and deeper. Most people crossed at a narrower part of the brook but I watched as the dashing young man (same one) went straight through, with great élan. Right, I thought, here goes and away I went through after him. Up until 1994 I had been a very active person, rock climbing, caving and mountaineering and was a member of the British Alpine Club, now I hope I have found a way of getting some outdoor activity back.

At this point I must mention the two young men with us who did an excellent job of looking after us.  One was Robert Taylor the senior warden and his assistant warden was Peter Rich. They both did a first class job and were in all ways a credit to the   Dartmoor National Park and themselves. I hope we meet again.

Day 3 We met at Challacombe Farm more or less in the centre of Dartmoor. Leaving the Farmhouse we followed a track which meandered its way through old lead works. Toward noon we came again to a Public House, I can’t believe how pubs pop up at just the right time. After lunch we returned along the same path back to the Farmhouse where the lady of the house awaited us with tea and cakes. We said our goodbyes and away home.

That was my first, but definitely not my last, outing with The Disabled Ramblers.

Or—as a gentleman with a London accent said one lunch time “Cor! The Wrinkleys Hells Angels” If you really stop and think about it, it’s quite a compliment at our age.

Elwyn D Davies, Brecon

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