Lindsey Loop Book.   The second edition, now on sale, includes the extra section from Donnington on Bain to Market Rasen. There have also been several alterations to the route. You can buy it from  Miriam Smith  on 01522 682479  at the special price  of £4.95 plus postage cost

 

Danelaw Way Book.  This is Brett Collier's last book. It is a 60 mile linear walk  from Lincoln to Stamford. You can buy it from  Miriam Smith  on 01522 682479  at the special price  of £4.95 plus postage

 

Profile of New Area President – Edward Leigh MP At the Area AGM in November 2008, Edward Leigh was elected as our new Honorary   Area President.  He succeeds Len Wilson who took over from the late Brett Collier. Mr Leigh is the Member of Parliament (Conservative) for the Gainsborough constituency, which covers a largely rural area of the county and includes Caistor and Market Rasen.   He was nominated for this post because of his work to promote a private member’s bill which became the Rights Of Way Act 1990, an important piece of legislation particularly for lowland areas of the UK whose paths suffer from the seasonal problems of ploughing & cropping and lack of reinstatement.  During drafting of the Parliamentary Bill we lobbied him and he joined Brett Collier, Stan Knafler and others to walk local paths to see at first hand the conditions we had to encounter. This bill led directly to improvements in the condition of paths. He keenly accepted our invitation and attended the November 2007 AGM. This is an honorary role and it is always useful to have a MP as Area President. Several MPs are already associated with other RA Areas and Groups.

As a registered charity, the RA cannot have a party political bias but our campaigning requires lobbying of the Government and the opposition parties in order to put forward our objectives and protect the interests of the walking public. He is well known to speak his mind and is Chairman of the high profile Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, which frequently sees him speaking in the House of Commons and quoted in the press on an almost weekly basis. He lives in the Lincolnshire Wolds and enjoys walking paths around his locality.              Accepting this position Edward told members:“ I feel honoured to have been nominated for this role and readily accept. I have been impressed by the Ramblers’ Association in achieving so much on behalf of the public in accessing the countryside  ”

Janet Collier with Chris Padley and Rev John Carr.

Memorials to Brett -1. On Trinity Sunday, 11th June 2006 Brett Collier’s widow Janet planted a memorial tree to Brett. The oak sapling was purchased with donations from Lincolnshire Area. Members It was planted in the churchyard of Walesby Old Church at a ceremony presided over by the Reverend John Carr. The tree is sited on the churchyard boundary and a commemorative plaque will be installed in the next few months. We must thank Chris Padley for his work in watering the tree this summer. The Old Ramblers’ church at Walesby was full for this annual Ramblers’ service. Anne Murphy led a 9½-mile walk for Grimsby-Louth Group and there were members from other groups in our Area. Anne’s party arrived at the Church to hear the bells ringing, and in good time for the lovely service, conducted by the Rev John Carr.

Memorials to Brett -2.  Brett had been a committee member and Life President of Lincoln Group and the Group had its own memorial collection. The proceeds of the collection and a contribution from the Lincolnshire Fieldpaths Association were used to buy a memorial bench.  The bench has been sited in Sibsey Wood, Aubourn on the Danelaw Way. This new wood owned by the Woodland Trust was planted to commemorate the Millennium in 2000. It has 80 oak saplings planted by Brett to mark his 80th birthday in the same year. There is a plaque in the wood to mark this occasion not far from the new bench.