ARS on the up

Last night's ARS (Audlem Ramblers Society) Annual General Meeting saw over fifty hikers enjoy a lively meeting and a superb dinner at the Lord Combermere.

Chairman, Christine Johnson, reported on a successful year that had seen membership rise from 48 last year to a current 75.

There had been a varied programme of walks including three consecutive mountains conquered in successive months. Short-ARS, introduced in 2010, which involves walks of 5 – 7 miles in length, had proved very popular and boosted membership – January's Short-ARS had attracted a record 37 walkers

Christine's presentation, illustrated with fine photos throughout, conclude with a celebratory, somewhat cheeky shot of two figures hurling themselves into the waves at Prestatyn after completing the Offa's Dyke long-distance walk from Chepstow. Were the booted figures really Christine and John Cooke?

Arrangements were discussed for an event to commemorate the Society's 15th Anniversary this year while the meeting agreed the annual fee should be held at £5.

After a sociable break for dinner, Peter Kay gave an illustrated and well-received talk on his and Brenda's 12-day hike around the Mont Blanc Massif in 2007 – one not for the faint-hearted! The route took in France, Switzerland and Italy amid some of Europe's most spectacular scenery.

The next ARS event is this Saturday's 11-mile hike out of Church Stretton in Shropshire followed by a Short-ARS expedition on Saturday 26th February to the Hanchurch Hills in Staffordshire.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.