Anybody who thinks climate change isn’t happening doesn’t live in our area of the Pennines. Mud isn’t in it but happily, in spite of dire weather since November, all of our planned events have taken place. The branch has been in great form and shown determination in the face of adversity. Our Christmas gathering at the cosy Cross Keys Inn was the only dry meet and very enjoyable, enhanced this year by Peter Taft’s esoteric and quiet musical quiz and enough tater pie to go round twice; as ever many, many thanks to the generosity of members who supported our local hospice through the raffle.
Gill and I managed to whimp off to the Mediterranean for the two meets so far this year – well done to those who braved the elements.
Our profile in the area has been enhanced immensely through the efforts of our secretary Paul Clayton (now a trustee of the association) and our member Peter Horridge whose skills as a graphic designer are invaluable. We have a steady trickle of new members and old members that we haven’t seen for a while. Local press has carried our publicity and Paul tells me that our 4 training courses this year are nearly full already. Additionally we are also hoping to host a mid week training course at the end of March for the ‘Help for Heroes’ charity which we are really looking forward to. When the weather is fine our training sites are superb so we are keeping everything crossed for a bit of drying fine weather.
It is obvious to me that the standard of work within the branch is improving both in the quality of work produced and the technical difficulty of work being undertaken; we have 4 members who will start work this year towards their advanced certificates and 1 who is hoping to qualify for the intermediate certificate – we wish them every success.
Three years ago our president Carl Watson took on Tracy Cumberbatch as one of the Bursary Trainees and under his guidance she gained her advanced level certificate. Since then Tracy has worked full time with Carl’s team of professionals and covered herself in nothing but glory and a lot of mud. That will stop! Having met another lady waller who works in Australia and has more work than she can handle Tracy is off to OZ for some mud free walling with snakes, spiders etc. – we have been impressed by her smiling determination and success and wish her Bon Voyage for her new venture.
Back home our programme contains varied challenges (Curves, retaining walls and gradients of course) at every level ………and miles to build before we sleep, we can’t wait to get stuck in.