AGM Notes and Documents
Chair & Area Representative – Grant A – granta@berkshirewalkers.co.uk
Why I joined the BWs: I joined the BWs to get out and explore an area which I had not walked before, since I’m based in Oxford and to improve my fitness whilst making new friends.
My favourite place in Berkshire: Definitely anywhere around Goring and Streatley, it has such wonderful hills and some excellent country pubs for a refreshment.
My favourite place in the country to walk: Most definitely the Lake District and discovering those smaller and less well known places like Elterwater and Esthwaite Water.
My top tip for new walkers: Invest in a good pair of socks which provide cushioning & temperature management but are also right for the season (thicker in winter, thinner in summer).
My responsibilities: To make sure that each committee meeting is planned effectively, conducted according to the constitution and that matters are dealt with in an orderly, efficient manner. I also am there to support the other committee members to bring their ideas to fruition.
Membership – Tom H – tomh@berkshirewalkers.co.uk
About me: I’m Tom and I’m now the Membership Secretary. I’ve been in the Berkshire Walkers for seven years. When I joined, I’d just moved to Reading for work, and wanted to meet new people and explore the area. I’ve enjoyed walking in many parts of Berkshire since then, but my favourite would have to be the West Berkshire countryside around Aldermaston and Woolhampton. Further afield, I love the South West Coast Path, especially Cornwall. Away from walking, I am a keen swimmer, enjoy pub quizzes, watching sport, and learning about American history.
My tip for new walkers: Don’t worry and take things in your stride! You will likely surprise yourself with how much you can do. Apart from a good pair of boots, you don’t need any special equipment to start.
Social events – Andrew K – andrewk@berkshirewalkers.co.uk
About me: I joined the BWs to get out and explore the local area, as well as meet like-minded walkers. My favourite place in Berkshire to walk is the area of the Chilterns around the Thames Path is both picturesque and easy to reach. My Favourite place in the country to walk is the New Forest which is lovely – I used to visit it a lot when I was younger.
My top tip for new walkers: Good boots are a must. You need boots you can trust to keep your feet dry and in good shape, so you can go walking in a range of conditions without worry.
My responsibilities: As Social Sec it’s my job to make sure that plenty of fun socials and activities to do with the group outside our usual walk calendar! Whether it’s pub/restaurant trips or bigger events like theatre/water park visits, I make sure that things get organised and advertised.
Walks co-ordinator – Zak – zak@berkshirewalkers.co.uk
About me: Having been a keen walker for many years, I joined the Berkshire Walkers and the Ramblers in January 2018, shortly after moving to Reading as a way of both exploring the area and making new friends, and the group has been very enjoyable in both respects. Having been on the committee as Membership Secretary for much of that time, I’ve now moved to the role of Walks Coordinator, which includes soliciting walks for the programme, trying to ensure we have a good balance and variety, keeping them up to date on the calendar, and encouraging and advising walk leaders new and old. I also regularly lead walks myself, and am Ramblers Area Secretary for Berkshire.
My favourite places to walk: My favourite walking in Britain tends to be in more remote and mountain areas like the Scottish Highlands, and so some of the events I enjoy most with the group are our longer trips away. More locally, I tend to be drawn to the hillier bits of our area – within the county that’s mostly West Berkshire, or just outside the county in the North Downs or Chilterns.
Secretary – Shannon – shannon@berkshirewalkers.co.uk
About me: I joined the BWs after the first lockdown, and I’ve enjoyed getting out walking and meeting everyone 😊 Being on the committee has been great fun – I’m now the website officer, and I’m hoping to give our site a revamp this year! I have a lot to learn, so please bear with me if things go wrong! I enjoy a good debate 📣, trips to the cinema 📽🎬 and exploring new places 🏞🌋🏝.
Marketing – Georgia – georgia@berkshirewalkers.co.uk
About me: Growing up, my nan would take me on long walks with her dogs in the countryside; when I moved county, my nan recommended the Ramblers Association as a means of continuing my love of walking. I joined the Berkshire Walkers to continue this passion and have made a lot of friends and found a lot of walking routes in a place that was entirely new to me.
My favourite place in Berkshire: I love so many parts of Berkshire (particularly any smaller villages as they have so much community), but I have to be biased and say Newbury 😂
My favourite place in the country to walk: Anywhere new that has countryside, rivers, woodlands and/or cafes and pubs! I have recently enjoyed a few BW trips in the Peak Districts, Isle of Wight and York.
My top tip for new walkers: Just go for it! When I first turned up to the walks, I had a handbag, a pair of converse, no water bottle (I do not advise this) and a packet of sweets for lunch! You don’t have to have all the fancy equipment to get started. Also, get involved as quickly as you can, try and lead a walk, even if it’s not a complicated route.