Chairman’s Annual Report – 2020-2021

Having had the dubious pleasure of chairing our first ever “virtual” AGM in November 2020 I am delighted to say that at the time of writing in early October it would appear we will be able to return to a face-to-face AGM for 2021.

As mentioned in my 2020 report, Nigel Paris stood down from his roles as treasurer and webmaster and was rightfully thanked and awarded a small gift in recognition of his efforts. Regrettably no “new blood” came forward to take on these roles but we were grateful that previous committee members volunteered for another stint, namely Martin Oborne as Treasurer and Erica Biggs as Webmaster. I am pleased to say that with the exception of myself all committee members have agreed to serve for a further year from November. That leaves the posts of Chairman and Social Secretary to be filled, along with my ancillary role as Group representative on Area Council. Please give this serious consideration – it is essential that if the Group is to continue new volunteers are identified to take on its running.

Before he stood down, Nigel very kindly devised an online booking system to allow members to register for walks whilst there was a limit on the number of walkers allowed. This system worked well enough for the periods through the year when we were allowed to stage Group walks but had its shortcomings for use on a long-term basis and I am pleased to say that we have been able to now return to a “no booking” programme. Walk leaders are currently required to complete a risk assessment for each walk and compulsory registration of walkers was being considered. Central Office need to be aware of the affect any further such impositions will have on our ability to retain and recruit walk leaders. One or two walk leaders decided not to return to leading post-Covid and they are thanked for their efforts, as are our other leaders, especially the new ones, and they are all extremely well managed by Kate Melville-Brown as Walks Organiser. One good thing that has come out of how we operated over the past year is the change to a monthly rolling programme rather than a fixed 6-monthly programme. It allows leaders to be much more flexible about adding walks without committing six months or more in advance.

Covid restrictions have meant the complete suspension of our social events but thankfully that is about to change with the skittles evening reinstated for the Friday after the AGM and the return of our Festive lunch in early December. A quiz and/or a ten-pin bowling evening is planned for the New Year and further events, including a walking holiday, are being considered for 2022.

I close this final report at the end of my planned 2-year-only period as your chairman with a vote of thanks to all those of you who support the Group, whether as committee members, group walkers or social event attendees or what may be called the ”silent majority” – without you Arun-Adur would not exist. I trust my successor will have nothing similar to a Covid pandemic to contend with and ask you support them as you have supported me.

Mike Charman