ARS holds its annual meeting

Last night, it was the annual general meeting of Audlem Ramblers Society, or ARS as it's known to all.

The group now has 90 members and the AGM, featuring a splendid supper at The Lord Combermere, was a sell-out.

The group organises Long and Short walks every month and an even more extensive programme was discussed last night. That could include a shorter walks programme with no hills (Flat-ARS), really adventurous ones for the very fit (Hairy-ARS) or mid-week walks (Mid-ARS).

Peter Kay was awarded the accolade of ARS member of the Year, having led excellent long and short walks during the past year. It was also highlighted that his son Ritchie, who works at the European Space Agency, had helped steer the Rosetta space probe in recent months to where man, never mind ARS, had never ventured before!

After dinner, ARS chair Christine Johnson gave a fascinating talk with illustrations, maps, photos and even sound effects of the walk she and a select group of walkers had made in October last year along St Cuthbert's Way.

This 62.5mile (2124m height gain) long-distance trail, which the party completed in six stages, starts at Melrose in the Scottish Borders and crosses the Cheviots into Northumberland before descending to Holy Island.

The walk includes sites such as St Cuthbert's cave where his body was hidden as the monks of Holy Island, or Lindisfarne, escaped the Viking invasion that destroyed their Abbey over two hundred years after the Saint's death.

Christine described the final stage of the walk, which she said was almost spiritual, as it crosses several miles of sands as the tide recedes from the mainland across to Holy Island, accompanied by the amazing calls of grey seals.

Her talk included observations on the wildlife, countryside, history and art, including illustrations of the magnificent Lindisfarne Gospels.

A splendid night was enjoyed by all with excellent hospitality once again by the team at The Lord Combermere.

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