1

Issue 67

F O O T N O T E S

Issue No. 67 Autumn 2011

Inside this issue:

Social Scene 2

Ali’s new venture

3

Walk for All 5

News from Ramblers City of Birmingham Group

Editor David Sutton

Contact: 194 Station Road

Kings Heath Birmingham

B14 7TE

0121 444 6188

Email: David.sutton986@

btinternet.com

CITY OF BIRMINGHAM GROUP ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Friday 11th November 2011 7.30pm

We hereby give notice to members that

the Annual General Meeting of the City of Birmingham Group of the Ramblers, will

be held in the Grimshaw Room, St. Chad’s Cathedral, Queensway, Birmingham,

on Friday 11th November 2011 at 7.30pm

Nominations for Officers (Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer) and Committee

members and any proposals or matters for discussion should reach the secretary by

Friday 14th October: Contact David Sutton, 194 Station Road, Kings Heath,

Birmingham, B14 7TE (email: david.sutton986@btinternet.com)

Our customary excellent free buffet with wine and soft drinks will follow

the proceedings

2

Footnotes

O ur ANNUAL DAY OUT on 9th July took us to Sheffield, a change from our usual

tourist hot spot and sadly a destination that did not appeal to as many of you as usual. A pity because Sheffield is an attractive and interesting place as I think those that did go would testify. We had lovely weather and the Botanical Gardens looked splendid. More than one person said they were better than our Botanical Gardens – they are perhaps more

park like - but I think they were simply different. Anyway, next year I think we will go back to somewhere more conventional! Our second WALK DAY OUT of the year (on 24th Septem-ber) sees us heading off to the charming spa town of Buxton in Derbyshire. It is not a big place but has a lot of interest including the fine Pavillion Gardens which we will obviously see. We will then have a short country walk and in the afternoon we will visit the spectacular Pooles Cavern. So, I think a date for your diary. Booking forms will be on the coach as usual and a lot of you will receive them by email thanks to our diligent Secretary! Enjoy Autumn – let’s hope we have an Indian Summer.

Social Yours, Derek Garfield.

Social Scene 2011

From our Social Secretary, Derek Garfield

3

Issue 67

O ne of my favourite reads is Word Origins by John

Ayto. I dip into it from time to time and never fail to learn something fascinating about the English Language. Here is a quotation from the book. ―....Ramble (17th cent) etymol-ogically denotes 'wander around like a randy ram look-ing for ewes to copulate with'.

It was borrowed from Middle Dutch rammelen, a derivative of ram-men, 'copulate with', which is connected with ram.‖

―I came to your shore as a stranger, I lived in your house as a guest,

I leave your door as a friend My Earth‖

~ Rabindranath Tagore (Nobel Prizewinner 1913)

S atyajit Anand, also known as Ali, one of our regular ―A‖ walkers, has gone into a new venture with his brother-in-law

Aftab Rahman. Several of the City of Birmingham Group have had the pleasure of visiting his fine establishment in recent weeks. Photographs of Bangladeshi day-to-day life adorn the walls, as

Ali’s new venture By Roger Gibbs

Ramblers’ defined!

Nigel Bradley discovers an old description for us rambling types...

4

Footnotes

I t is with sad regret I have to tell Birmingham group members, that Fran Rhodes passed away earlier this year. I have some

happy memories of Fran and her husband Ron. They both took me under their wing when I first started rambling back in 1994, and they would make sure that I got over stiles and crossed narrow foot-bridges without falling into the brook—mind you it was a close call sometimes! I remember on my first Lakes Weekend, we were at breakfast and Fran noticed I was having difficulty lifting the big teapot up so she kindly offered me her help saying "lt would be safer if I poured out the tea." (l wonder what she meant?) Fran was a kind, warm and funny person to all she met and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. I am sure your thoughts of sympathy and condolence go out to Ron at this time of sadness.

Fran Rhodes

By Steve Brittain

does the above quote from the famous Indian poet. (Look him up on the Internet if you don’t believe me!).

We are talking about the ―Bay Leaf‖, café, bar and restaurant recently opened in Gibb Street, by the Custard Factory. A visit is highly recommended, not just to support one of our own members, but also because of the quality and range of items available, many of them Bangladeshi home style dishes to complement the photographs, all taken by Aftab.

While there, I was reminded of the time that our Group used to have a regular ―Dining Club‖ section. Does anyone remember it? Greek, Indian, Chinese and English nights were organised with up to 30 members if I remember correctly (not guaranteed!) Maybe we should start it up again, starting by a visit to Ali’s, but anyway, Bob Hunt tells me that his ―Urban Walk‖ on 23rd November passes nearby the Custard Factory, so perhaps a diversion to the Bay Leaf will be in order then?

5

Issue 67

J une 15th saw the City of Birmingham Group’s 13th annual walk for all abilities. This year 's walk was in the Wyre Forest and

Horace Marsh once again led our walk, which was a four mile circular through the forest. We had a coffee stop at the Arboretum, which is a specimen planting within the forest, started in the 1990s by the Wyre Forest Society. We saw a Tulip tree in bloom, along with many other trees within the specially fenced off area. This year we only had one wheelchair user, which was a little disappointing. There were 17 walkers attending. Finally I would like to thank Horace for leading and to all our members who supported us on the day.

Walk For All 2011

Steve Brittain reports

Picture by Tony Holmes

6

Footnotes

RAMBLER OF THE YEAR 2011

Saying “Thank you” - a little job for you!

As previously mentioned, we would like to recognise the

important role that our volunteers play in making our Group so special.

Our 2nd annual award for the “Rambler of the Year” will be

presented at the AGM in November 2011.

This is your chance to reward a fellow member for their efforts.

Please could you play your part by nominating the volunteer who you think deserves the award this year? Give your nominations in writing, to a Committee member before October, so that the

winner can be announced in November.

~

RAMBLER OF

THE YEAR

7

Issue 67

Please Note: Any discounts shown in this publication are wholly at the discretion of the retailer and are not an entitlement to Ramblers members.

The Ramblers’ Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Em-bankment, London SE1 7TW

Sign up for the e-newsletter... The Birmingham Group now have an occasional email Newsletter. News

and reminders about forthcoming so-cial events, walk changes and infor-mation, and other items of interest to group members direct to your inbox. To sign-up, simply email the editor: david.sutton986@btinternet.com

CONTRIBUTE TO

FOOTNOTES!

Your articles, letters, photographs and

anecdotes are welcome. Write to the editor, David Sutton at 194 Station

Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7TE. (Email: david.sutton986@btinternet.com.

Phone 0121 444 6188)