History

History of Lee Valley Friends

Maureen and Brian had been members of the Ramblers Association for many years, but walks of 10-12 miles were beginning to become too far for Maureen. She tried walking with the original “Friends” group that Ann Skinner had founded some years earlier and found the pace and distance just what she wanted. Unfortunately most of their walks started too far from home.

In 2001 Maureen saw an article in the “Rambler” magazine (now “Walk”) about Ann getting permission from Head Office to set up “Friends” groups countrywide. When Maureen read this she contacted Ann asking if we could have a group in Waltham Forest. Ann replied that she lived too far away to set it up herself but if Maureen were prepared to organize it she, Ann, would advise her how to proceed. Maureen contacted a few of her friends, Reg. & Margaret Brown, Pat Lee, John Payne and a number others with whom she played badminton. Most of them indicated that they would be interested in joining a short walking group so she went ahead with her plans.

The original founders of Lea Valley Friends

The founders of Lea Valley Friends - Brian, Maureen, Pat, Margaret and Reg

The first few years were very difficult, as apart from Maureen and Brian no other member had the experience to lead walks, so Maureen had to go cap-in-hand to leaders of other groups to ask them to lead a walk for us. Most of them were very helpful. Eventually Ann and Norman Skinner kindly organized a map reading and leaders course at their home, which a few of our regulars attended, so gradually our own members were able to start leading walks.

Over the past six years, the group has gone from strength to strength and membership now is over 90 people, although we average between 10 and 25 on our walks.

Our Christmas lunch and short holiday in the Spring (with morning walks), have become popular fixtures in our social calendar. Our Social Secretary, who is always open to suggestions of places to visit, organizes a variety of trips - anything from a guided tour of Wimbledon or Arsenal Emirates Stadium to a visit to a Music Hall.

On 9 January 2002 a meeting was held at the Y.M.C.A. in Walthamstow to discuss forming a group. Norman Skinner chaired the meeting (Norman has sadly passed away since then). The Meeting voted unanimously to go ahead, as long as it was short, slow walks.

The next meeting was arranged for 13 February 2002, to form a Steering Committee. Reg Brown was appointed Chairman: Maureen was appointed Walks Programme Secretary, as she was the only one at the meeting with the experience to do this job; Margaret Brown was appointed Group Secretary as she had secretarial experience and she also took on advertising; and Pat Lee took on the task of Treasurer, although she pointed out that she did not have any experience in this field. No one seemed willing to become the Membership Secretary, until Brian was eventually persuaded to take it on, but he was Membership Secretary in name only as Maureen ended up doing most of the work. Ann Skinner suggested the name the “Lee Valley Friends”.

Inaugural Walk

Saturday, 16th February 2002

Walk from Chingford Station to the Owl Pub for coffee

51 people attended!