Arun Adur Group – Annual Report from the Chair – 2025-2026

Once again, we’ve enjoyed another year full of well attended walks and plenty of social events. Group numbers have remained steady at approximately 400 during the year. I conservatively estimate that over 50 members regularly join at least one of our walks every month, perhaps 80 – 100 at least once a year. Walk Leaders regularly introduce new members who are “trying us out” at the start of their walks.

The relentless run of scorchingly hot weather during this year’s record-breaking summer heat impacted us. A few walks were cut short, some started earlier – one at 8.00am, and we held evening walks. Some were cancelled altogether. Sadly, we had to also cancel our summer picnic/games afternoon for the same reason.

On the plus side though – we didn’t encounter any mud!

We are all extremely grateful to our Walk Leaders who continue to volunteer their time in
planning, checking and leading walks for us. Once again, thank you to them for ensuring that we were still able to provide an almost complete twice a week walk programme.

During the year all Walk Leaders had to complete various online training modules that Ramblers HQ introduced this year. I’d like to thank them all for doing this.

I’d also like to thank all those who enjoyed walking with us.

Despite the role of Social Secretary being vacant this year, we continued to enjoy a variety of social events.

I would particularly like to thank Mike Charman for all his hard work in arranging this year’s holiday in Torquay which nearly 30 members enjoyed.

I’d also like to thank the following:

Kate Melville-Brown – A National Garden Scheme visit

Min Morgan – the summer picnic (sadly cancelled)

Lesley Johnson – an archaeological walk

Andrew Caswell – a number of butterfly walks

Mike Charman – hosting a quiz night

Joanne Clarkson – A day at Goodwood horse races

Karyn Prowen – an upcoming shuffleboard evening in November

Joanne Clarkson – for organising the soon to be enjoyed annual Christmas Dinner

I also conducted a tour of historic Arundel followed by a pizza supper.

As ever I’d like to thank my fellow committee members:
Karyn Prowen - who will be stepping down as Secretary in the new year.

Tim Baldwin as Treasurer, Lesley Johnston as Membership Secretary, Andy Fort as
Webmaster and Kate-Melville-Brown as Walks Organiser.

Thanks also to John Barnes and Kevin Jephson who serve as ex-officio members and to Babette Berry who has been our representative with the Sussex Area Committee for the last 5 years. Babette is stepping down from this role at the end of this AGM.

Although it has been my pleasure to serve the membership as Chair for the last four years, after some consideration I decided earlier in the year that I would step down. 

In handing over to John Barnes at the end of the AGM, I know that the group will be in good hands.

On a final note:

Never forget that without people volunteering their time and skills The Ramblers could not exist. On behalf of all of us I thank all our Walk Leaders and Committee Members.

Stuart Clarkson
Chair

Arun Adur Ramblers Group