Social Events

For members of our Group we also include social activities throughout the year. With more than 900 members we recognise that we come from different communities and walk on different days of the week so there is a need for us to get together and meet in a social environment.

In 2010 we marked our 60th anniversary year in several ways - we held a special birthday lunch party in March at which our guest was the then Mayor of Croydon, Mrs Margaret Mead; a very successful barn dance took place in September; we provided first prize for a poster/essay competition for Croydon primary schools, with the winner having a four night break with her family at a HF Holidays guest house in the Isle of Wight at Easter 2011, and finally we provided four wooden benches which were erected by Croydon Council in Lloyd Park.

The biggest social event of the year is our Annual General Meeting, which normally takes place in November. It is not a dull, dry affair. In the morning there is a 3 mile walk led by a volunteer with all participants returning to the AGM venue. Inside the hall there are stalls of craft items, made by members, as well as used maps, walking gear and books for sale. Then a soup and sandwich lunch is served before the business of the AGM itself begins. Often there is a guest speaker after the formal proceedings but in 2010 there was a fashion show. The clothing was provided by Cotswold Outdoor and the models were our own members - they looked great! The guest speaker at the 2011 AGM was a member of East Surrey group who is severely deaf and acts a Volunteer Speaker for the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. He explained how hearing dogs are trained and demonstrated how his canine companion Baxter helps to lessen the practical problems of living with severe deafness. And then it was time for tea and cakes! With all this informality and interaction there was plenty of time to renew friendships and exchange news.

Older members may have hung up their boots but they like to keep in touch. The quarterly newsletter is sent to all members and a tea party for long standing and older, less active members was held in September.

During the last four years a welcome addition to the social calendar has been the fish and chips quiz night. Usually held in early December, this event is very popular and helps to keep spirits up in the winter months. The quizmaster is already working on the 2012 quiz.

And if this is not enough then we can look back to some good walking holidays in Spain, Northumberland and Berkshire.

Many of our holidays are organised through HF Holidays or Ramblers Holidays logo But you do not have to be a member of HF or the Ramblers to book a holiday with them so please feel free to use this link to organise your own trip. This page last updated 6 Feb 2012.